Past Quilt meeting presentation by Karen Griska
Guild History
The Berkshire Quilters’ Guild
The Berkshire Quilters' Guild was started in the spring of 1993 by Doreen Atwood and Natalie Goranson in the hopes of finding others interested in quilting and friendship. The Guild has three purposes; to be charitable, educational and social. In 2013, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with a dinner honoring the original charter members.
Over the years, the Guild has created and raffled several large quilts to raise money for a variety of charities including The Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation System and HospiceCare in the Berkshires.
Each year guild members have created numerous children’s quilts which have been donated to the Community Health Program in South County and to Shriner’s Hospital in Springfield. Quilts have also been donated to the Linus project, a national organization that provides quilts to sick children. Several members have taught quilting to children through an arrangement with the Sheffield Historical Society and the Bushnell Sage Library. Demonstrations of hand quilting, piecing and applique have been presented during Elihu Burritt Day in New Marlboro.
As a charitable organization, the Guild has responded to many requests for help. A partial listing is as follows:
The Guild continues to look for opportunities to raise money for community organizations, to provide the comfort of a quilt to those in need and to get involved in educational experiences.
The Guild’s monthly meetings offer regular features as follows:
The Berkshire Quilters' Guild was started in the spring of 1993 by Doreen Atwood and Natalie Goranson in the hopes of finding others interested in quilting and friendship. The Guild has three purposes; to be charitable, educational and social. In 2013, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with a dinner honoring the original charter members.
Over the years, the Guild has created and raffled several large quilts to raise money for a variety of charities including The Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation System and HospiceCare in the Berkshires.
Each year guild members have created numerous children’s quilts which have been donated to the Community Health Program in South County and to Shriner’s Hospital in Springfield. Quilts have also been donated to the Linus project, a national organization that provides quilts to sick children. Several members have taught quilting to children through an arrangement with the Sheffield Historical Society and the Bushnell Sage Library. Demonstrations of hand quilting, piecing and applique have been presented during Elihu Burritt Day in New Marlboro.
As a charitable organization, the Guild has responded to many requests for help. A partial listing is as follows:
- Quilts to victims of Hurricane Katrina (2005)
- Lap quilts and pillowcases to The Wounded Warrior Project (2011)
- Quilts and pillowcases to Camp to Belong – New York (2011, 2012, 2016) Squares made into quilts at Pumpkin Patch for the John Crawford Quilt Challenge
- Lap quilts made through our Sit and Sew for Charity quilting bees (an amount that has quickly begun to be uncountable) have been donated to local fire departments (2014) and to any group needing quilts
- Pillowcases (including some made by the Berkshire Theater Group) to Camp Belong – Massachusetts (2015)
- Quilts to the Center for Families and Children in Pittsfield for the Nightie Night Project (2015)
- Quilts to a Great Barrington family who had a fire (2015)
- Pillowcases to Camp to Belong – Massachusetts (2016, 2018, 2019)
- Quilts to Department of Children and Families in Pittsfield for the Nightie Night Project (2016)
- Quilts for Fort McMurray – Alberta, Canada – fire victims (2016)
- Children’s quilts to CHP (2007-2016)
- Children’s quilts to Shriners (2008-2016)
- More than 50 quilts to Berkshire South Community Center, 18 Degrees and Community Health Program ( CHP) (2019)
- Almost 40 quilts for children and adults to Fairview Commons Nursing Home, Lee Healthcare Rehabilitation and Nursing Home and the Elizabeth Freeman Domestic Shelter. ( 2020 through March)
The Guild continues to look for opportunities to raise money for community organizations, to provide the comfort of a quilt to those in need and to get involved in educational experiences.
The Guild’s monthly meetings offer regular features as follows:
- Helping Hands – before every meeting, at 6:30 pm, our resident quilting experts give their assistance to anyone who has questions or needs advice
- An opportunity to meet guests and new members
- A drawing for Fat Quarters
- A drawing for Door Prize
- Show and Tell – a chance for members to share their latest projects
- Group projects such as round robins, mystery blocks, block of the month, challenge quilts
- Featured speaker and/or workshop
- Refreshments provided by our Hospitality Members
