Quilt for peace

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Food Basket Quilt, made by Marlys Wiens, is traveling to a variety of 2010 MCC relief sales in Canada and the U.S. to help raise funds for MCC’s food programs. Creative people can help make next year's traveling quilt by sending peace-themed quilt blocks, by Sept. 20, to Wiens of Minnesota and Bev Patkau of Alberta. (MCC photo by Brenda Burkholder)

Quilt for peace

MCC staff
June 4, 2010

AKRON, Pa. – The North American Mennonite Relief Sale Board invites contributions of peace-themed quilt blocks that will be combined into quilts to raise money for Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC) peace programs.

These traveling quilts will be displayed at various MCC relief sales in Canada and the United States, beginning in 2011. As symbolic auction items, they will inspire bidders to contribute toward MCC’s peace work.

Through Sept. 20, volunteers Bev Patkau, Calgary, Alta., and Marlys Wiens, Edina, Minn., are accepting blocks of all sizes; pieced, appliquéd, embroidered or painted; any color; representing any sentiment or symbol of peace. Patkau and Wiens will assemble the blocks into at least one quilt for each country.

In 2008-2009 traveling quilts raised more than $180,000 for MCC. Each year, the quilt has a different theme. The 2010 quilt focuses on food.

Proceeds from the 2011 peace quilts could support any of MCC’s peace work, including the programs of MCC’s partner Justapaz, an organization of the Colombia Mennonite Church. Justapaz supports peacebuilding, human rights and nonviolent action among people who live in areas of conflict, perpetuated by the military, the paramilitary or rebel groups.

In Afghanistan, an MCC partner organization, Cooperation for Peace and Unity, is training leaders in peacebuilding, conflict resolution and related development fields. They, in turn, will train other Afghans.

To support these programs and others, quilters are also invited to create their own peace quilts or wall hangings. The proceeds garnered from the projects at the relief sales can be designated for peacebuilding.

In Canada: Peace quilt blocks should be sent to Bev Patkau, 227 Valhalla Crescent NW, Calgary, AB T3A 1Z8. She can be contacted by email at lpatkau@shaw.ca [2].

In the United States: Peace quilt blocks can be sent to Marlys Wiens, 7310 York Ave. S. #105, Edina, MN 55435. She can be contacted by email at mwiens@pro-ns.net [3].

For more information on relief sales or updates on the peace quilt project, visit reliefsales.mcc.org.