Annie’s Country Quilt Store owner Rachel Maw has boxes full of colourful quality quilts and crochet blankets all ready to be sent north to those in most need.
Rachel is collecting quilts and blankets to send to people in North Island flood-affected areas who have lost their home or loved ones.
‘‘It’s about sharing the love basically,’’ Rachel said, ‘‘for people who have lost all those personal things from their house, it’s just a way of giving them something someone has cared about and put a bit of love into creating.’’
Rachel sent an appeal out on her newsletter and social media channels asking for any spare quilts that could be donated.
The call went out nationwide as Rachael has customers from all over New Zealand.
‘‘We have had people bring in quilts, we’ve had them posted to us from all over.’’
Rachel said she has a network of people in the North Island who know where the need is and will help distribute the quilts.
The quilts are all quality work and full adult size with various designs and patterns, from the more traditional to bright colourful designs for children.
The quilts take hours to make and Rachel said they cost $400 or more for the materials.
‘‘It’s a pretty generous donation, I’ve been overwhelmed by the beautiful quilts.’’
Rachel said she was shocked by the extent of the flooding.
‘It all gets a bit personal, everyone has a contact or someone they know in the North Island.
‘‘It is heart warming to see that people have been really generous.’’
Rachel said she will let things settle before sending out the first lot of quilts in the next three or four weeks.
Donated quilts and blankets can be dropped into Annie’s Country Quilt Store in Tinwald or posted.
