Quilt Guild presents gifts to nursing home residents

A talented group put smiles on the faces of the residents of a local nursing home when presenting them with special personalized gifts last week.

The Forsyth Calico Cutups Quilt Guild is a group of 28 ladies, ranging in age from their 50s to their 90s, who love to give to others. The Quilt Guild, who meets at the Presbyterian Church in Forsyth, gets together twice each month, once for their monthly business meeting and the other time to sew on personal projects or Guild projects.

"Once a year we go to a nursing home and gift a quilt to each resident," explained Guild member Phyllis Giggers. "This week we went to the Shepherd of the Hills Nursing Home. We do this to put smiles on the residents' faces and to visit with them, to bring them some company. Some of them cried out with joy since they were so excited to receive one. They all enjoyed receiving one. We put their names on each quilt."

The Quilt Guild gave out a total of 61 quilts at the Branson facility. Their donations, however, go far beyond the area nursing homes.

"We have donated to families that have had their homes burned down," said Giggers. "We supply quilts to firemen and police officers to have them on hand for when there is an accident or someone is in need of a blanket."

An upcoming project for the Forsyth Calico Cutups Quilt Guild is to make quilts for Elevate Community, the tiny house community being built by Elevate Branson.

"When the first tiny homes open, we will present the residents with a quilt for their bed," Giggers explained.

When asked why the Guild chooses to give away their beautiful handiwork, Giggers noted, "I love to see the smiles on their faces when they receive one of our quilts. I know it makes our hearts feel happy to give to others."