Wrap A Smile Quilts

Picking up quilts for Wrap-A-Smile is a happy excuse to venture out and break up the routine of our stay-at-home days.  Last week I was in Unity, Maine, where friend Polly (see blog post of Nov 18, 2019) gave me 27 quilts,  all made by her - start to finish - since I last saw her in February.  It's a good thing we're not a competitive group as her 6-month total is now 56 quilts for WAS!!  That would be hard to beat.  Go, Polly, go!! Polly often works in pairs, making two of a design, but never identical.  A sampling of her bounty is posted here. Even though medical missions are still on hold due to COVID-19 I am happily storing these quilts until we can send them off to comfort the children who have so inspired Polly.  Yesterday took me to a favorite quilt shop in Nobleboro, Maine, where I met new friend Sue to receive her  2 beautiful quilts for WAS.  A new friend, more quilts, and time in a fabric store.....who could ask for more?!   ...

As I continue to think about Terry's legacy, I also need to mention her love for Rotary which was as important to her as her quilting. Terry was a second-generation Rotarian, becoming a member in 1987, just a month after women were first invited to join the organization.  She held every office in her club, including club president. Being a "people person", she always sought out Rotarians when she traveled, often staying with them through Rotary's host exchange program. Her gregarious nature, and commitment to Rotary networking, were instrumental in building the reach of Wrap-A-Smile . Back in 2013, Terry was honored with Rotary International's Service Above Self Award , which is the highest honor an individual Rotarian may receive. It is given to those who demonstrate exemplary humanitarian service with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary. Terry was only the eighth Rotarian in our Dist...

Today I am sadly sharing the news that our beloved founder of Wrap-A-Smile , Terry (Hodskins) Fullam, has passed away.  Conversations during her final days centered on the joys she experienced through her love of quilting: the friends she made and the lives that were comforted through Wrap- A-Smile quilts that have been shared around the world. It was Terry's inspiration nearly 20 years ago that led to the founding of our project.  Seeing children wrapped in paper drapes after their Rotaplast surgeries to repair cleft lip and cleft palate, she said "we can do better".  She went home and immediately finished the first quilt to be donated.  Terry quickly developed a network and the next volunteer mission to Venezuela carried 100 quilts, enough for every child treated. Current total is over 26,000 quilts that have been created by hundreds of quilters and shared in over 28 countries. Quite a story, and quite a legacy! Forever humble, Terry always gave the credit to ...