News

On December 23rd Portland TV station KATU broadcast a story about a choir for women incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. The choir program’s goal is similar to ours — to teach a life-enhancing skill that will improve the women’s chance of a successful return to society after leaving prison. We invite you to watch the video on KATU’s website.

CCQ instructors made 255 colorful pillowcases for donation to kids in foster care this holiday season. The pillowcases will be distributed through Embrace Oregon, a nonprofit that partners with the Oregon Department of Human Services in providing for some of the needs of children in foster care. Making pillowcases is just one of many ways you can help kids in foster care through Embrace Oregon. Here are some others:

• Become a foster parent
• Make one-time or recurring cash donations
• Donate “welcome boxes” for kids new to foster care
• Volunteer as an Office Mom or Dad

Please visit the Embrace Oregon website to learn more.

Coffee Creek Quilters donates around 100 student-made quilts every year to a variety of organizations. Last week we heard a sweet story about one of our donation quilts. This particular quilt was one of twenty-one donated to CASA of Jackson County in Medford. Diane Campbell, an instructor in our Thursday class had delivered the quilts in January 2015. Last week one of Diane’s students told her that one of her dorm mates had received a photo of her grandbaby who is in foster care in Medford. In the picture, the baby was wrapped in one of our quilts. The label was visible and showed the quilt was made by another dorm mate who is a good friend of the grandma. We instructors were touched by the story. Mary Shiffer, an instructor in our Wednesday class summed it up nicely for us: “This is a lovely story, proving the interconnectedness of humanity. What we do individually with CCQ is extremely important. I cannot solve the ills of our world by myself but I can change the experiences and attitude of one woman at a time. For each of these women, what they learn about giving, receiving, working hard, sharing, helping, laughing, crying, courage, trusting and more than I could ever name, changes the world for her and also for me. This story reminds me why I even give up Wednesday night Winter Hawks hockey games to be at Coffee Creek. For me, I remember the Christopher Movement motto, ‘It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.'”

Student quilts from the Coffee Creek Quilters prison quilting program will be on display September 19 at the Treasures in the Attic quilt show. Some of our instructor-made quilts will also be on display and available for purchase. This event includes an opportunity to have your quilts appraised by local experts, a vintage market with collectible quilts, a quilt raffle, and presentations on a variety of topics. Details can be found on the Treasures in the Attic flyer. Treasures in the Attic will be at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center, 11275 SW Durham Ln., McMinnville, OR on Saturday, September 19, 9 am to 5 pm.

CCQ members gave moms incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility the opportunity to make journals with their kids at the prison’s annual TACE event on July 11 and 12. TACE is Through A Child’s Eyes, an annual summer event sponsored by Wilsonville Rotary where Moms and kids take part in interactive games, crafts, and other activities. They enjoy a BBQ meal together and discuss what is happening in their children’s lives. Between children, moms, volunteers and staff, about 800 people attended this year. CCQ provided supplies for participants to make journals — matte board donated by local frame shops for covers, paper inserts, and fabric ties to make them into books. The women and their children put their artistic ideas together and came up with amazing creations. Many of the moms wrote meaningful entries in the journals for their kids. CCQ board member Betty DeHaven and her husband Dave took charge of the activity again this year. “We are constantly encouraged by seeing the connection between mother and child, and the satisfaction and seeing the nurturing that takes place. We consider it a privilege to be part of this event,” Betty said.

We heard a sweet story this week from Beaverton’s Quilter’s Corner quilt shop. One of their customers decided to celebrate her birthday by buying $100 in fabric to donate to the Coffee Creek Quilters prison quilting program. We don’t know who the anonymous donor is, but we truly appreciate her generosity. We are also grateful for Quilter’s Corner’s support of our program. Owner Deb Messina often features CCQ in her monthly newsletter and the shop serves as a drop-off location for donations of fabric, sewing machines, and quilting supplies. You can learn more about Quilter’s Corner and sign up for their newsletter on their website, quilterscornerstore.com.