Calico Corners donates equipment to Quilts for Kids non-profit organization

Home Textiles Today Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/4/2011 1:04:08 PM

Kennett Square, Pa. - Recognizing that new shelving and fabric-measuring and cutting machines would create more efficiencies, design fabric house Calico Corners has donated several pieces of equipment to non-profit charitable organization Quilts for Kids to support its endeavors.

Since opening its doors 10 years ago in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Quilts for Kids, which has donated tens of thousands of hand-crafted quilts to children with serious illnesses, has become "so successful that they had to move into rented space last fall-but aren't yet operating as efficiently as needed in the expanded space," Calico Corners said.

When Calico Corners president and ceo Roy Simpson Jr., and director of custom products and programs, Julie Morris, heard about the necessity, they paid a visit to Quilts for Kids and "were bowled over."

Morris said, "all it took was a tour of their facility and a documentary about the volunteer quilters to show us that this is a cause we want to support. The impact these quilts have on thousands of sick, injured or abused children is heart-warming, as the kids usually can't have stuffed animals in the hospital due to allergy issues."

Simpson added that he "saw clearly" that Quilts for Kids' operations would benefit from new equipment to more adequately meet increasing demand for its quilts.

"More efficiency will help Linda and her foundation reach more children, and that's what it's all about," he explained.

Calico Corners is providing fabric racks for storing the fabrics, shelving to stage quilting kits and finished quilts, as well as a special table for rolling, measuring and cutting fabrics.

Furthermore, Calico Corners has created a partnership with Quilts for Kids and will make a donation for every custom bedding order placed in 2011.

"Whether a customer is shopping in one of our stores or working through an in-home design consultant, these donations will help fund the purchase of novelty children's prints used to make quilts for children in need around the country," Morris said.