Quilts For Causes
As a 501 (c)(3), Palo Verde Patchers support charitable causes and educational opportunities for the members through its Quilts for Causes programs described below. Over the last 25 years, the club has donated over 5,000 quilts to its Quilts for Causes charities
Honor Quilts
Anneliese Benton, PVP member, started our Quilts of Valor project in 2006. Quilts of Valor is a national program with the goal that all combat-wounded service members receive a lap quilt for their service and sacrifice to our country. These Quilts of Valor are intended to be our quilters’ Purple Hearts to the soldiers.
PVP changed our program name to Honor Quilts when we decided we would present all of our patriotic quilts to local veterans who served in a combat zone.
Each month we have a Block of the Month kit prepared for our members who come to the club room to sew for us. The blocks are all made, and the following week we put the rows together, add borders, make the binding and a pillowcase, and cut the batting and backing. The quilt then goes to one of our club longarm quilters for professional quilting.
We give the Honor Quilts to combat veterans at evening presentations held October through May (excluding December). To date (March, 2023), Palo Verde Patchers have honored 155 veterans. Presentations are held in our Kuentz club room. Family, friends, and members of the Palo Verde Patchers are invited to attend.
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Native American Connections
Native American Connections (NAC) was founded in 1972 to “improve the lives of individuals and families through Native American culturally appropriate behavioral health, affordable housing, and community development services.” Today, the NAC owns and operates 22 sites throughout the Phoenix area, offering a continuum of affordable housing, health, and community development services which touch and change the lives of over 10,000 individuals and families each year.
The quilts, made by Palo Verde Patchers for babies, children, and adults, provide warmth and comfort to the residents of the 850 housing units. Palo Verde Patchers also provide tote bags that program participants can use for shopping trips or when moving to a new location.
To learn more, click HERE to visit their Website or HERE to watch videos that provide an overview of services and program.
St. Francis Xavier School
St. Francis Xavier School, established in 1936, is located in central Phoenix and serves students from preschool through the 8th grade. Students come from all income levels, cultural backgrounds, and religious affiliations to attend this school that strives to provide “superior education.” The school provides a scholarship program for students whose families do not have the resources to pay the tuition. From time to time, teachers recognize students who would benefit from a warm blanket, a need that Palo Verde Patchers is happy to fulfill.
To learn more, click HERE to visit their Website.
Member Education
Palo Verde Patchers’ is a very active club with about 250 members. We offer our members many opportunities to learn through classes, demonstrations, guest speakers, and trunk shows. We also offer Special Interest Groups that focus on techniques that are specific to quilt styles and quilting tools, i.e., Art, Hand Appliqué, Modern Quilts, Hand Work, Wool Appliqué, Machine Embroidery, Miniatures, Accuquilt Cutting System, and Featherweight Sewing Machines. These educational offerings help to provide our, members with the knowledge to achieve the skill level they desire in a friendly environment.
Classes: PVP Members Teach Classes
Guest Speakers: Demystifying Quilt Show Judging by Cindi Seitz-Krug
Trunk Shows: Carolyn O’Bagy Davis Hopi Quilts Trunk Show
Special Interest Groups: A GoGang SIG Workshop