They call themselves Quilting For Troops and they come together from 1:30 - 3pm every Thursday at the YMCA work on "comfort quilts" for military families in our area who have or have had a family member stationed overseas. You don't have to be a Y member or a quilter to be a part of the group. The quilters will accept fabric donations (100% cotton), particularly in patriotic colors. The group has completed 4 quilts already! Pictured from left to right: Sandy Davis, Gail Caldwell, Barbara Snider, Betty Seaman, Nadine Armstrong, Nancy Leoncavallo, and Collette Barry-Rec (Military Appreciation Coordinator for the YMCA).

Quilting For Troops Meets Thursdays At YMCA Patte Wood Staff Reporter   Every Thursday afternoon the Group Fitness Roomat the Y becomes the quilting parlor for eight to ten women who are members of the Rockbridge Area YMCA and the Rockbridge Piece Makers Quilt Guild. They call themselves Quilting For Troops and they come together from 1:30 - 3pm to work on "comfort quilts" for military families in our area who have or have had a family member stationed overseas. You don't have to be a Y member or a quilter to be a part of the group. The quilters will accept fabric donations (100% cotton), particularly in patriotic colors. The group was started by Barbara Snider and Collette Barry-Rec. Barbara had joined the Y’s Military Appreciation Group along with her daughter whose husband is in the service. Barbara got the idea from an article on the internet called Quilts for Valor which they adapted to support the families of the troops. The first quilt completed was sent to the son of Captain Christopher Stokes, A.J. (three) at Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina. Captain Stokes is the son of Martin and June Stokes of Rockbridge County. Since then quilts have been prepared for a grandmother of a brother and sister, both in the service, who is holding the family together. Quilts have also been prepared for mothers, wives, and other family members who need the caring support of friends from Rockbridge County. Carol Schoner scans photographs which are submitted on her computer then prints the picture on Fabric Paper. This block becomes the center of the quilt. Sue LaRue, President of the Rockbridge Piece Makers Quilt Guild, met with the members of the Y Military Appreciation Group and got them started, pledging to be helpful. Since the beginning, members of the Guild and Y members have donated red, white and blue material which is cut into squares for the quilts. The group has already completed 4 quilts.

* * * * *