Olde Town Quilt Guild, Southern Appalachia QOV to give food pantry, veterans

JONESBOROUGH —The Olde Town Quilt Guild and Southern Appalachia Quilts of Valor are joining together for a morning of giving. The groups are having a joint donation and recognition celebration this November, with the Guild presenting a check donation for the Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association, and the QOV chapter presenting two Quilts of Valor to two selected veterans. Jackie Rose, head of the newsletter for the Guild, said the check presented by the club is more than $6,000, money raised over the duration of the National Storytelling Festival. "We're grateful for every nickel," Rose said. "It took four days…We're just fortunate that they allow us to set up and sell that weekend." Raising the money for JAMA is something the Old Town Quilt Guild has done for almost a decade, Rose said. She said raising the funds for the nonprofit food pantry provides support for them to purchase food and give to those in need. "There's a need for food in this area, and funds for food for the local food pantry," Rose said. "Including this year, we will have raised I think about $38,000 or $39,000 for the food pantry." Rose said over time, raising the money has helped form a lasting partnership with JAMA and has raised support from the community, with many people wanting to help and donate to the cause. Alongside the check donation, two veterans will receive their own Quilts of Valor. Karen Campbell, group leader for the Southern Appalachia QOV, said giving the quilts to those who served is special to each person who is a recipient. "Our mission with Quilts of Valor is that quilts equal healing, and we see it constantly when we do award quilts, especially our Vietnam vets," Campbell said. "It gives them something tangible to hold onto. I get pictures back from wives of their husbands in a recliner covered in their quilts. You know it really means something to them, and that's what we want." Rose and Campbell agreed having both events on the same day is meaningful for each mission, which is centered on giving back and serving the people. "I'm just happy to be able to touch another veteran's life and help them," Campbell said. "It's just knowing that we've come together as a group to make this impact on our local veterans." "For me, with the food pantry, it's knowing that someone will have a meal on their table that we all take for granted," added Rose. The check presentation and gifts of the Quilts of Valor will be Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. and held at the Jonesborough United Methodist Church, located at 211 W. Main St.