Kerry HokeWhen Ann Judge retired in April 2015, she knew she wanted to find new ways to experience a sense of purpose and to give back. Since she was a young girl of 12 years, sewing has been her happy place. So when a friend invited her to the Quilt Studio at Messiah Lifeways, she felt at home right away.
Mildred Groff, one of the founding members of the Quilt Guild, was a big influence in establishing Ann’s involvement with the group. She spotted Ann’s energy and passion and harnessed it right away. As the group worked on a particular project, Ann remembers Mildred calling her out by saying, “I think you could take care of that.” That direct invitation to contribute gave Ann the confidence she needed to jump in, even as a non-resident and a newcomer. In 2018, Ann went on to become the group’s president and has been serving in that capacity since then.
The Quilt Guild is an active group of volunteers, Messiah Lifeways residents and community members alike, who use their creative skills and expertise to make hand-crafted products that are sold in the gift shops on campus and at Quilt Sales on and off campus throughout the year. All 100% of the Quilt Guild’s proceeds go directly to support the Endowment Fund for Benevolent Care. In Fiscal Year 2022, the Quilt Guild contributed a total of $11,270 to the Endowment Fund.
During the height of COVID-19, the group quilted bookmarks that were distributed to every resident and team member as a way to express encouragement and care for the Messiah Lifeways community.
In addition to its dedicated support to Messiah Lifeways, Ann and other members of the Quilt Guild have worked to extend its mission into the world with additional projects, such as creating and donating 60×80 inch quilts to the Mennonite Central Committee for disaster relief and shoebox quilts to Samaritan’s Purse for Operation Christmas Child. The Quilt Guild has also made scented hearts for babies in the neonatal units at Hershey Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
“[Involvement with the Quilt Guild] marries what I love with doing good and making beauty,” Ann says. “And it’s an excuse to buy fabric,” she humorously adds.
She goes on to say, “Messiah Lifeways is a wonderful community, and I feel part of [it] even though I don’t live here.” The Quilt Guild has been just the outlet she needed to experience that sense of purpose and opportunity to give back for which she was searching.
If you would like to get involved with or support the Quilt Guild, you can do so in one of the following ways:
- Shop their products in Katie’s Corner in the Village Center or at Paxton Street in the Village Commons. Each product is specially labeled.
- Attend and shop the upcoming Quilt and Craft Sale. You will find the sale set up in the Village Square Lobby on May 11 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm) and in the Village Commons Galleria Room on May 12 (10:00 am – 2:00 pm).
- If sewing and creating is also your happy place, contact Becky Cain in the Volunteer Office for more information about how to become a member of the Quilt Guild (717.790.8203).
