Wrap ukraine with quilts
When Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, my heart sank. I had the joy and privilege of teaching English in the beautiful city of L’viv, Ukraine in 2008. I can still taste the borscht, a sparkly L’vivsky brew on my tongue on a hot July night, and the hot chocolate so thick you had to scoop it with a spoon. Beyond the memorable food, the city was filled with warm and generous people who spoke a mysterious and beautiful language in a city that dated back to before the Middle Ages. I was not in South Carolina anymore; I was in Ukraine!
Throughout that summer, my American group immersed ourselves in Ukrainian culture as much as possible. The city was equal parts centuries-old charm and post-Soviet era grit and nuance. Our third floor apartment’s hallway had lightbulbs hanging by strings and shattered windows, but the four of us girls were warm and comfortable as we made meals, filled vases with daisies, and wrote English lessons together on the sofa. We went to two Ukrainian rock concerts in the park with a new local friend, and visited locals’ homes with translators to do interviews to learn more about Ukrainian history and culture. In a rickety and claustrophobic elevator in a Soviet-era apartment building, I traveled up several floors to interview an 80-something Ukrainian grandmother about how Ukraine had changed over the years. Though I don’t remember all the details now (but I still have the notebook that has all my notes!), I will never forget the feeling of being the outsider who was warmly welcomed into a Ukrainian’s home with tea and pastries.
We taught an English camp in the Carpathian mountains that summer, and the camaraderie I felt with those Ukrainian students was almost instant. That week is easily one of the most memorable of my life. At night, we’d gather around a guitar and sing songs like Hey, Jude, one of the university students’ favorites. We hiked and played games, ate incredible food cooked by women from L’viv who traveled with us, and did a talent show. I didn’t want to go home.
When we returned to L’viv and had a couple more weeks before heading back to the U.S., we spent more time with students that we’d gotten to know, visiting local museums and cafes and generally soaking in the culture and wrapping up our English classes.
If it’s not clear, Ukraine has a special place in my heart. When I read about the Russian invasion, and as days and weeks turned into months of brutal, horrific warfare, I didn’t know what to do with my deep sadness that this beautiful land and people were being relentlessly attacked by an enemy bent on total destruction. I could absolutely pray. But prayer didn’t feel like enough; my hands needed to take action and help in some way.
Enter Wrap Ukraine with Quilts by Hello Cottons. Through Instagram’s mysterious algorithm (and probably a lot of scrolling through the search page on my part looking for quilting inspo!), I found the Hello Cottons account (@hellocottons) and was immediately inspired. Their original goal was to send 10,000 quilts over to refugees in and around Ukraine in 2022, but since extending their donation window into 2023, they have over 20,000 donated quilts at the start of this year. And they need more quilts in lap, crib, and twin size to send to refugees, many of whom have lost most or all of their possessions and are far from home. Watch Hello Cottons video about the project and to see how you can get involved!
I immediately set to work, making three crib size quilts to send.
As I created these quilts, I prayed for whoever would receive them. That sweet babies the age of my daughters were fleeing their homes to a soundtrack of bombs brought me to tears; knowing that I could somehow send love across the miles at least gave my heart a little rest. I couldn’t do much, but I wanted to offer warmth and comfort in the only way I tangibly could.
Would you send comfort and warmth to a mama or a little one? I’ve been amazed by the inclusivity and kindness that exists in the quilting community; what if we harnessed that kindness and banded together to send thousands more quilts to those who need it during the cold Ukrainian winter months? Imagine the comfort a quilt brings you here in the quiet and warmth of our homes in countries that are not at war; how much more would that simple act of kindness bring to someone who has lost so much? If you are not a quilter, but still want to help this incredible nonprofit, you can donate money to help with shipping costs on the Hello Cottons website.
Let’s continue to wrap others in quilts, in our communities and abroad. What a gift to be a quilter and to be able to provide something so tangible to those who need it most. Check out the Wrap Ukraine with Quilts website for all the details on how to ship your quilts!
Happy quilting! Let me know if you make and send a quilt (or five!)!