The Saints Mary and Joseph Quilters meet in St. Julie Hall every Tuesday from 12:30 – 3:30pm. All are welcome to make quilts to warm the hearts and bodies of those in need . Since its inception in October 2008 , the group has supplied over 40 quilts to Lazarus House shelter/ministries in Lawrence, Massachusetts. There are currently over a dozen members, including both experienced and new quilters. The quilters’ mission has been directed primarily at giving children displaced from their homes something warm and pretty to cuddle up in. Each quilt contains the label, “Made especially for you with love by the St. Joseph Quilters” and a date…

Contact Nancy Antonietti at 978 857 7822 or mnpa1@comcast.net

Dear Anna,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you and everyone for the extraordinary gift of your quilts.

Last Sunday we held a special Breakfast with Santa event for the children and their parents who have been staying with us. These 61 people from 14 families have been with us since November 5th and have become members of the family. Each morning their yellow school buses come up our driveway and each afternoon they return with these children.

Progress has been slow for them in finding ways to leave us for more permanent homes. Many have had serious damage done to their homes and have not yet been able to make the repairs needed to turn the electric back on. Many face challenges with their insurance companies and their jobs.

So last Sunday we had a chance to prepare a special breakfast and serve them. We brought in a magician and students from Loyola High School in NYC came to play games with them while each family visited Santa, had pictures taken and collected toys for the children.

I was the moment, however, when we told each family that we had special homemade quilts for them that took the breathe away from their parents and led to rivers of tears and abundant smiles. More than one told me about special memories of their own of their children’s quilts lost in the storm. While store bought gifts are great, nothing says home and family and future more than a quilt. The care and love that went into each was so evident and so greatly valued.

So, on behalf of all of these families, let me just say thank you and God bless each of you-those who made them with such care, those who reached out to us and those who transported them to us. You will be in our thoughts and our prayers throughout this holy season.