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Goodwater resident quilts for charity
Published Thursday, November 5, 2009
Brown Nursing Home is selling chances to win hand-made Navajo Afghans to raise money to buy Christmas presents for needy residents and they’re doing so thanks to the handiwork of Goodwater resident Rilla Blalock.
Blalock, 83, has been making blankets to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for the elderly since she was 70. She began at the request of her daughter-in-law, Laura Blalock, the social service director for Brown.
Rilla Blalock has had a love for helping others and quilting for as long as she can remember, but in the past 13 years she has developed a particular affection for doing so for her peers.
“I’ve always had a feeling that I need to help people,” Rilla said. “I like helping the elderly because I’m elderly and I like helping others that can’t help themselves.”
The blankets feature bright colors and geometric patterns and are remarkably different from the traditional quilts she usually hand-stitches for the fundraiser. She taught herself to create the Navajo blankets using a craft book she borrowed from a friend.
Blaylock crafted the three blankets being used in the raffle over a three-week period. Two Afghans will be given away as part of the raffle and the third will be given to the Brown staff member who sells the most tickets for the raffle.
“The staff helps me sell tickets for the Afghans when I have these fundraisers and they help us on the night of the Christmas party,” Laura Blalock said. “I’m very appreciative to them for helping.”
Selling chances to win the blankets serves as the nursing home’s primary holiday fundraiser. They use the money to purchase gifts and wrapping paper in order to ensure that each resident has a Christmas present to open at their holiday party.
In the past, the fundraiser has brought in as much as $1,500 when they did a quilt fundraiser. Laura Blalock said this is the first year they have raffled the Navajo Afghans and she hopes they will be equally successful.
“We make sure that no one goes without having a Christmas present to open,” Laura Blalock said. “It’s just sheer joy to see them open their presents.”
Anyone who wants to purchase a ticket can contact Laura Blalock at 329-9061. Tickets are $1.
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