Kino Quilt Project

Kino Quilt Project

For about twelve years, the Kino Border Initiative has fed migrants in a tiny soup kitchen in Mexico, just across the border from Arizona. Two years ago, after years of saving and fundraising, they were able to start building a shelter that would house about 140 people. As a longtime volunteer, I started thinking about what I could do to help with this ambitious new endeavor.

I have made simple tied quilts as gifts for almost fifty years. I started wondering if people would be interested in helping to make quilts for the 70 bunk beds. Wouldn’t it be nice for people staying in the shelter to sleep under a quilt made with love just for that purpose? I lay in bed at night thinking about it. Was I crazy to start such a project? A little leery of what I might be getting myself into, I tested the idea by asking a friend and fellow volunteer what she thought. Her answer was, “Maybe.”

With that unenthusiastic encouragement, I decided to try. I asked permission from the nun in charge and negotiated a time when we could use the space. Then, I posted a sign in English and Spanish. I encouraged people to come and said , “You don’t have to be able to sew,” and “bring scissors”. Seven women came, three from the U.S. and four from Mexico. Only three in the group knew how to sew! I showed a sample, started one group on tying a quilt that I had started and gave everyone else material to cut with templates to follow. My friend took me aside and said, “This isn’t going to work, Angela.” I replied, “It is okay, maybe we will only end up making five quilts, then that will be our first goal.”

We met once a week. Every Tuesday, I would pack my car with scissors, bins of fabric, batting, an iron and other sewing supplies and drive across the border hoping that I wouldn’t have to explain to Customs. I got stopped a few times, but they always shook their heads and let me through. The group could only meet in three hour blocks as the dining room was in use the rest of the time. Some of us didn’t speak Spanish and some didn’t speak English. We got along just fine, translating for each other and just sharing the pleasure of creating with other women. Two women started bringing their sewing machines and took home cut pieces to work on. The people cutting fabric and tying tops could hardly keep up with them, so some people took home fabric to cut. Some of our non-sewers were very accurate cutters. Some women came to my house in the U.S. to help tie quilts, but several of our members didn’t have visas, so we had to meet in Mexico. Our group grew, people came and went. Still, we felt like we were only producing a few quilts. Our goal went up from five to 30.

Then a miracle happened! Someone posted an article about our group in the organization’s online newsletter. It went viral! I started getting enquiries by phone, email and Facebook messenger. Multiple church quilting groups took our project on. Boxes with quilts started appearing on my doorstep and at the post office. Donations came with fabric and even sewing machines. Over the course of a few months our group made 53 quilts, but we ended up with 195 quilts from nine states!

We have more than enough quilts for every bed in the shelter. Due to the pandemic the shelter has been slow in opening, but the families staying there have handmade quilts to sleep under. They know that people cared. I believe that when you make a gift for someone your feelings go into it and are felt by the recipient. After their difficult journeys and with their uncertain futures, we hope that the quilts will help the migrants to find peaceful sleep.