By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Chroma Quilting in Hays is seeking to finish a project that will help keep veterans warm.
However, the pandemic hit. Passageways' Homefront Veteran Neighborhood was supposed to be completed by the end of 2020. The pandemic derailed both the housing project and Legleiter's quilt project.
Legleiter is resurrecting the quilt and bedding project with a goal of delivering 75 quilts and bedding sets to Passageways by Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
"When you think about a house and all the things in needs in it — silverware, plates, furniture, towels — I thought this would be something that we could help with to help that project move along," she said.
Kansas nonprofit helps veterans
Passageways, a Wichita-based nonprofit, assists both veterans and active-duty military and their families. The program has a clearinghouse at Town West Mall in Wichita, which provides necessities, including bedding for those they serve.
Jennifer Garrison, Passageways co-founder, said although the pandemic has temporarily halted the Neighborhood project, the program is raising funds to purchase a seven-bedroom home that has been used by Starkey, a nonprofit that serves intellectually and developmentally disabled adults.
This seven-bedroom house will serve female veterans. There is no other housing project in Kansas that serves female veterans, Garrison said.
Not only is housing an issue for female vets, but the suicide rate among female veterans is four times higher than for male veterans, she said.
Passageways has already raised $50,000 toward the $175,000 needed for the purchase of the home.
Garrison said the quilts that were started for the Hometown project could be used for veterans in the new housing project or by other veterans and service personnel the program serves who need a "hand up." Passageways assists a couple of hundred veterans per year through its programs.
Garrison said last week the program provided beds and bedding to a service family who had seven children.
Bedding for veterans
Legleiter has been involved in the American Legion for years in honor of her grandfather who served in the Army during World War II. She was an American Legion Rider for a time and wanted to become involved again in a service project for veterans.
Legleighter has quilts in various states of completion from quilts that were shipped to her fully finished to quilt blocks and tops that need to be completed.
Legleighter reached out to friends on several quilting Facebook groups so she has received donations not only from local quilters but from donors from across the country.
Volunteers and donations needed
Legleighter is seeking monetary donations to help pay for supplies to finish the quilts, as well as donations of bedding sets, mattress pads and pillows. Donors can also donate Hobby Lobby gift cards or Walmart gift cards that could be used to purchase quit backing, bedding sets and pillows.
Legleighter is hoping to have all donations by Nov. 5.
The quilt project is also looking for volunteers to help finish the quilts. The project is needing quilt tops and help finishing quilts that are already started. Legleighter said she could use assistance from long-arm quilters to finish the quilting and binding.
Chroma Quilting has set work dates between for 1 and 4 p.m. on Sept. 19, Oct. 3 and 17, and Nov. 7. at the quilt shop, 126 Ninth St., Hays.
Donations of physical items can be shipped to Chroma Quilting, 126 Ninth, Hays, KS 67601. Monetary donations can be mailed to Chroma Quilting, P.O. Box 1012, Hays, KS 67601.
Items that are needed
• Four queen quilt tops 90 x 96
• Seven twin quilt tops 54 x 90
• 10 packaged queen sheet sets
• 21 queen-sized waterproof mattress pads
• 28 twin-sized waterproof mattress pads
• 67 pillows or Walmart gift cards
• Backing fabric for quilts or Hobby Lobby gift cards
• Volunteers to do sewing, binding, and long-arm quilting
• Monetary donations