"I didn't bring any clothes. This is filled with quilts."
Lorraine belongs to a quilting guild in Australia and when they heard that she was coming to Japan again, they sent along A LOT of donation quilts. They had no particular destination in mind. The Tohoku evacuation centers were at one time collecting donation quilts through Quilt Tsushin but no one is sure whether they still need quilts. Mrs. Furui and I donate quilts to the local Ronald McDonald house and Mrs. Furui also makes quilts for the university hospital. Lorraine was hoping that one of these places might find a use for the Australian ladies' quilts.
Actually, there are a lot more quilts still being stored at Lorraine's son's house. Too many for Lorraine to carry herself to my area so we have arranged for Mrs. Okutomi or Mrs. Harada to pick them up the next time they drive in... In the meantime, Lorraine brought what she could and showed them to me.
"Please find some way to use them... The hospital, the Ronald McDonald house, anywhere is fine."
When Tetsu came home that night, he politely admired the Australian quilts. (Tetsu doesn't really understand quilts. They are colorful and they can keep people warm. That's about the extent of his quilt knowledge.) But when Lorraine said that they could be donated anywhere, he spoke up.
"Would anybody mind if I took a quilt or two to the convalescent home? Those would really brighten up some of the rooms."
That's a nice idea, especially because he had given Lorraine a tour around his convalescent home when she visited in February. She could imagine which rooms he might be talking about and who might be admiring the quilts.
In the end, Tetsu took ALL the quilts (seven?) and though I gave him instructions to return any that the staff might not be able to use, NONE of the quilts came back! Staff and residents seem very excited to have all the pretty quilts up on the walls and draped over the sofas.
Ronald McDonald and the hospital will have to wait until someone picks up Lorraine's other quilts. This first batch is not coming back to us...
18 comments:
That is such a nice and touching story! Like the loaves and fishes, these will touch so many people!
that is so nice - I think a lot of people tend to forget that the convalescent homes need cheering up! The quilts all look so pretty I especially like the one with the circles.
Karen
How nice that your husband immediately saw a use for the Aussie quilts.
On another note, I was not aware that the Ronald McDonald Houses extended outside the U.S.A. With all the beef (pun intended) regarding fast food, the Ronald McDonald Houses are a superb means of a large corporation making a difference in a community. This, I will give them. We have two family friends who have had need of Ronald McDonald Houses, and they are ever so grateful for the use thereof.
Love them all! Lovely gesture and thank hubby for his generosity and thoughtfulness too!
I think Tetsu "gets" quilts more than you think! What a wonderful idea to bring them to the convalescent hospital to warm the spirits of the residents! Lots to look at and admire.
Look how they brighten up the walls in there - that's amazing! I think that's a wonderful use of the quilts!
How very nice! Yes, they do brighten up any room and put smiles on faces I'm sure, too. :)
Tanya, Tell Lorraine that the quilts she gave are beautiful and I know the folks at the convalescent home will love the quilts.
What bright pretty quilts they are! That is the perfect place to use them and they do make the place look so much more cheerful. Good for Tetsu to think of it.
Aren't they fabulous on the walls? It's the perfect place for them!
How beautiful those quilts are, and how lovely they look, and how much the must brighten the days of the folks in the nursing home! What a lovely idea your husband had!
Tell Tetsu that he has made EVERY quilter proud by thinking of such a wonderful way to share those quilts. And, from how nicely they are displayed and hung, he understands quilts way more than you give him credit for!
What a smart husband you have! ~~but I am wondering how she got all those fabulous quilts to Japan.
What a special friend, and totally unselfish friend..everybody is a winner here...Lorraine for being the special, giving friend..and Tetsu for admiring the quilts and suggesting they make the convalescent home more cheerful...and you Tanya, b/c you got to see it all happen...perfect day....hugs, Pat in IN
Tetsu is brilliant! Great idea for the quilts - and for Lorraine to forgo clothes and only bring quilts.
And you, Tanya, for being the linch pin that brought all this together.
Thanks for the photos again - very nice.
Wow!! Amazing quilts for the staff and residents to love and admire! Way to go Tetsu, excellent idea.
Julie in IA
I am a staff of Ronald McDonald House Tochigi.
We really appreciate you and Lorraine for the donation, last time.
The quilts are so beautiful!
They can heal the people's hearts.
Please visit us to see our facility, anytime.
Thanks again.
What a great place for those quilts. Good idea, Tetsu! I think he understands quilts more than you think he does. Lovely quilts!
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