- Utah nonprofit Wrap the World with Quilts sent 400 quilts to Michigan.
- Volunteers, including Sherry Avellar, contribute to the nonprofit's global disaster relief efforts.
LEHI — Two weeks after the deadly church shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Michigan, Utahns are finding a way to send comfort from afar — one quilt at a time.
Volunteers with Wrap the World with Quilts, a nonprofit based in Lehi, have made and collected nearly 400 quilts for those affected by the tragedy.
The organization started a few years ago when founder Gina Halladay wanted to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. Since then, the nonprofit has sent more than 61,000 quilts to victims of disasters across the globe — from earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria to fire victims in Maui.
"Quilters are givers," Halladay said. "We get about 100 to 500 quilts donated every week."
Those donations come from every corner of the country — people in all 50 states helping stitch hope for others in need.
About eight local volunteers help run the operation. Among them is Sherry Avellar, who has sewn hundreds of quilts over the last few years.
"Seven-hundred and counting," she said.
So, when the call came to help people in Michigan, she didn't hesitate.
"I'm not a member of the church, but it doesn't matter," Avellar said. "I truly will make quilts for anyone that needs them, and that group needs them."
The quilts were loaded in trucks Monday and taken to Riley Blake Design Company in Lehi, which will be shipping them to Michigan. The quilts will then be delivered to the church congregation, as well as others in the community affected by the shooting.
"It means something to me, and I hope it means something to the people that get them," Avellar said.
Each quilt has a QR code, so recipients can send a message back to the person who made it.
"While a quilt will keep you warm, I think what it really does is it says, 'I see you, I know what you're going through, I made this for you to bring you some comfort and some peace,'" Halladay said.
Wrap the World with Quilts is taking donations through the end of the month for another shipment to Michigan in early November. To learn how to donate a quilt, visit its website.
