Call for Quilts for Japan!

Oh wow.

There is a Japanese Quilting Magazine that has put the call out for Quilts to be sent to Japan, to be given to those most in need…

Quilters Newsletter has long enjoyed a friendship with Patchwork Tsushin, a leading Japanese quilt magazine. So when Editor in Chief Naomi Ichikawa emailed to say her magazine is collecting comfort quilts for those impacted by the recent earthquake in Japan, we wanted to join the effort. QN will gather quilts from U.S. quiltmakers then forward them to Naomi and her staff, who will deliver them to those in need. (If you live outside the United States, email me as indicated below, and I will provide information on how you can send quilts directly to Naomi.)

Here’s how you can be part of this important worldwide response:

•    Send quilts of any size from baby to adult to:

Dana Jones
Quilters Newsletter
741 Corporate Circle, Suite A
Golden, CO 80401

•    Mark your box: “Quilts for Japan.”
•    Send quilts as soon as possible and no later than April 30, 2011.
•    Enclose your name, address, phone number, and email address with the quilts.

If you have questions, please email Dana Jones.

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I don’t know of any better way to get your handmade quilt right to those most in need!  *HUGE GRIN*

Here is the mailing information if you’d like to mail your quilt directly to the editor of the Japanese Magazine:

EDITED: They’re asking for quilts to be sent after May 1st, 2011 in order to keep the mail system open for delivery of emergency supplies through April.

Naomi Ichikawa

Editor of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin

Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd

2-21-2,Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo,

Japan zip:113-0034

Ayumi of Pink Penguin read the Japanese article closely and noticed that they’re looking for quilts at least 40″ x 40″ (100 cm x 100 cm), either new or used,  and to please make sure they’re clean. She also mentioned the need for sanitary napkins and other personal care items.

***I also just received word from Alissa Haight Carlton, the founder of the Modern Quilt Guild movement that she will put the call to all the Modern Quilt Guilds worldwide to join in the cause! Isn’t that great?!! ***

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Edited to also add: Here are a couple of good to know points about mailing your quilts:

• List the contents of your package as “used clothing” to avoid your quilt from being stolen.
• UPS has been generous in the past about discounting their fees for similar donation efforts.

I’ll keep adding any more good to know info here as I come across them..

What I find so mind boggling is despite all the money that clearly is being received by these great organizations, the news from from the helping crew on site is that supplies are hard to come by. It seems they’ve been relying on buying goods from local stores…but when there’s a disaster of this scale stores run out of stock really quickly. Yet they always say, don’t donate hard goods, money is best?? I don’t get it.

Even though they’re only asking for quilts, I’m including some industrial strength zip locks with feminine products, travel toiletries, wipes, tissues, a facecloth, wool socks, some underwear, soap and maybe a long sleeve shirt and some protein bars. If I were homeless and living at the local highschool, these are some things I would be desperate for.

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