All Things QUILTS OF VALOR retreat!

Hello Beautiful Golden Anchor Quilting Community,

As we approach our Quilts of Valor FREE Mini-Retreat from March 28-30, 2025, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity and enthusiasm of our community. This event is an opportunity to wrap our veterans and service members in love and appreciation through the power of quilting. We can’t wait to see the impact we’ll make together!

We have secured the conference rooms at the Freedom Building at the White River Junction VA Medical Center for the retreat!

Retreat Schedule & Details:

Friday, March 28 - Sunday, March 30, 2025

Location: White River Junction VA Medical Center – Freedom Building Conference Rooms

Arrival & Setup: Retreat opens at 8:00 AM on Friday with local help available to carry in supplies from 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM.

Closing & Cleanup: We can leave everything set up through Sunday at 2:00 PM, with local carry-out help available from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

Friday Night Potluck Dinner – We encourage everyone to bring a dish to share!

Other Meals: We may have some meals provided, but please plan to bring your own food or order out for the remaining meals. (we are still working to get meals/snacks donated, let us know if you have a lead!)

What’s Provided:

Tables, chairs, power, and extension cords (feel free to bring your own chair or table if preferred).

Pressing stations with irons.

Free kits made from donated fabric – available as precut kits, cut-your-own kits, patterns, and additional donated fabric for inspiration. Bringing your own project? Check the Quilts of Valor website for size requirements and free patterns.

Coffee, tea, and water throughout the retreat.

A snack table – feel free to bring a treat to share.

Prizes and optional games for fun participation.

What to Bring:

Sewing machine and must-have sewing tools.

Thread for piecing.

Layers for temperature comfort.

Snacks for the community snack table.

Fabric if you wish to work on your own project.

Desk or floor lamp if you prefer extra lighting.

Your favorite chair (optional).

A positive attitude and excitement for a weekend of quilting for an incredible cause.

Ways You Can Help:

- Fabric Donations: We need patriotic-themed fabrics, batting, and backing to complete as many quilts as possible. Every donation helps us create something special for a veteran.  

- Long Arm Services: Once the quilt tops are made, we’ll need volunteers to help quilt them! If you have a long arm and can lend a hand, we’d love to hear from you.  

- Sewists Needed: Whether you’re piecing, pressing, or cheering us on, we want to fill the room with 50+ sewists working together in service.  

- Food Donations: We are also looking for donations of meals and snacks to keep our hardworking quilters fueled throughout the retreat.   

- Monetary Donations: If it’s easier to donate funds rather than materials or food, we can use them to purchase exactly what’s needed to keep this event running smoothly.  

Veteran Nominations:

We are still accepting nominations for veterans to receive the quilts made at this retreat, which will be presented at the White River Junction VA Medical Center in late summer. Eligible nominees include Active Duty, National Guard, and Reservist members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard) who have served during wartime, conflicts, peacekeeping missions, counterterrorism operations, or times of peace. Veterans must have received an Honorable or General Discharge to qualify. Nominees must also know that they are bing nominated.

Examples of service that qualify include:

Direct combat engagement in declared or undeclared conflicts.

Being wounded or injured in combat training or direct support of combat.

Serving in harm’s way delivering support or supplies to those engaged in battle.

Caring for casualties, injured, and ill service members overseas or stateside.

Providing casualty assistance to families of fallen service members.

Supporting fellow service members struggling with the burdens of war.

QOVF does not award Quilts of Valor posthumously. If you know a veteran who meets these criteria and would like to nominate them, please reach out to us.

Accommodations:

For those traveling from out of town, there are several local hotels near the White River Junction VA Medical Center. Some attendees have expressed interest in sharing rooms to help with costs. We are working on creating a Facebook space where people can connect and coordinate room-sharing. Stay tuned for more details.

We are still accepting donations of fabric and are looking for local or national businesses who may want to donate food or funding for the event. If you’d like to donate or get involved, please reply to this email or reach out to us directly.

Thank you for being part of this incredible mission. Let’s make this retreat unforgettable!

With appreciation,

Louisa, Darren, Anne, Tina, and the Crew at Golden Anchor Quilting