Maria’s response to the call for quilts and comforters for the Afghan refugees coming into Albany was to grab some batten and some fabrics people have sent her and make four quilts this morning.
We have worked with Bishop Maginn High School to support an Amazon Wish Thanksgiving Basket List that gives the refugees – new and old – some support for creating Thanksgiving meals. We’ve asked Wal-Mart and several other corporations to contribute gift certificates or cards for turkeys.
And we’ve been asking for support for the refugees – especially the Afghans – in their new apartments.
This week is their first exposure to cold weather, and they are freezing, say the social workers.
We are asking for bathroom rugs, lots of towels, sheets, blankets, quilts, and comforters. They must be new and can be sent to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Maginn High School, 75 Park Avenue, Albany, N.Y., 12202.
The apartments are small and the families are sometimes large. Some members of the family will be sleeping on floors and sofas as well as beds. For bedding, I’d suggest sheets and pillows and pillowcases come in Queens size, and blankets should be medium or large.
Quilts and comforters should also be large, as they may be used in different ways for different members of the family.
Maria and I are bringing her quilts and some other supplies we have purchased and bringing them to Albany this Wednesday. I hope to meet some of the Afghan refugees then. I’ll keep everyone posted, thanks.
Check out the Wish List, if you can. There’s not much left, we should sell out by tonight, and thanks.
Can I take this to mean that I could send a handmade cotton quilt to the school? I was afraid to ask on your first
request list because you specified things had to be new and in their wrapping and of course, this would not be.
since it wasn’t purchased in a store.
Not necessarily Amy these are not going to the school but to the refugee families. I wouldn’t bring them for the students.. You’ll have to ask Sue Silverstein [email protected] I’m pretty sure they would accept them for the refugees if they were washed and packaged..
wonderful enterprise!! so quickly done…and well received i am sure. love her slippers as well. maria and you are inspirational. the true spirit of the season. keep it going! you have support!!
Helping the refugees is a wonderful endeavor. I had a question though if they celebrate American Thanksgiving foods and perhaps might like something that reminds them of their home country
They might Lorlee, but I don’t think this is the time for us to do that. They will have certificates to buy rice and vegetables, and we will, of course, help them get whatever they want. I think they will drift that way naturally, the other refugees eat food from their own country all the time.