Throughout the year, a group of women spent their Monday mornings sewing for a good cause.
The 16 or so members of the women of the Coupeville United Methodist Church have been sewing hats, scarves and quilts of all sizes. Those items will be sold during the holiday bazaar that takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Coupeville United Methodist Church located on North Main Street. Money raised from the bazaar will be donated to organizations that help people on the local, regional and international level.
“We work on them all year long,” said Anne Colligan, one of the people helping produce the quilts.
Ninety-four-year-old Helen Ludvigson said she sewed the fronts of 67 quilts this year while Georgia Wright said group members have a relay system where one woman puts together one part of a quilt before moving it to the next woman.
During a visit to the church, some group members were busy pricing out items for the Bazaar while others were busy completing such projects as cross-stitching for a towel.
Of course they took time to take a break from their work to enjoy coffee and a snack.
“Whenever there is a group of United Methodist women, there will be food,” Colligan joked.
The Coupeville United Methodist Church Holiday Bazaar is divided into six parts quilts and crafts, a bakery, wreaths, attic treasures and lunch, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“You can’t get a better lunch for $6,” group-member Kathleen Anderson said.
The money raised through the bazaar will be donated to a variety of causes. Locally, the proceeds benefit the Coupeville Boys and Girls Club and CADA. Regionally, funds raise through the bazaar also goes to the Tacoma Community House and the Atlantic Street Center in Seattle. Funds will also be dispersed to the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, said Kathleen Anderson, one of the group members. She added the money going to the global ministries will help relief efforts in the Philippines.
If any leftover quilts remain after the bazaar, they will be donated to a variety of organizations. They will provide a source of comfort for children at Marjie’s House in Oak Harbor while others will be given to the Whidbey General Hospital Auxiliary for sale in the gift shop.
Ludvigson mentioned three quilts recently went to Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma.
The church’s holiday bazaar is one of a full slate of events taking place in the Coupeville area Dec. 7. The Greening of Coupeville takes place later in the day. The festive event features a holiday parade, tree lighting, Lighted Boat parade and Christmas carols.
