4-H Members Contribute to American Hero Quilts

Published: 2019
By Inga Hawbaker

During spring of 2019, Daniels County 4-H leaders and members took on a sewing project that was initially facilitated by Daniels County Commissioner Mikel Lund; the project proved to not only be an incredible learning opportunity, but also an inspiring cause. With the help of seven adult leaders, six members of the Poplar Valley 4-H Club met and sewed three quilt tops, utilizing patterns and materials provided by American Hero Quilts. American Hero Quilts, which distributes quilts to hospitalized servicemen and women, was born out of the love and compassion of one determined Washington State woman in 2004; the organization has since grown across the United States due to the number of injured service members returning home from active service. MSU Extension Agent Inga Hawbaker transported the finished quilt tops to Forsyth, MT, where an affiliated group of volunteers called “Piece Makers” finished the quilting process. Daniels County 4-H received the finished quilts in time to display at the Daniels County Fair and the 4-H Fashion Review. After the fair, the quilts were sent to the organization’s headquarters in Vashon, Washington, where they were to be distributed at Madigan Hospital in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, other Warrior Transition Centers in the U.S., and directly to bases in Afghanistan and Qatar. One 4-H leader stated, “When you think about the number of hands that have touched each quilt-from start to finish- that’s what makes this project so special! And while it may seem small in the grand scheme of things, it’s truly a heartfelt way of honoring our servicemen and women.” As of 2018, American Hero Quilts has distributed approximately 27,800 quilts, all created by volunteers across the U.S.