News

Sending a quilted thank you to soldiers

By Jenn Rains

People find many different ways to honor and thank the men and women who serve the country each and every day. Cards, care packages and visits are the typical ways people show their appreciation, but one local group found another way to honor soldiers at Fort Hood.

The Thank You Quilters in Cedar Park make quilts for soldiers at Fort Hood who are recovering from wounds.

Audrey Winter started the group in her home after finding out that no such group existed. “I got a hold of the chaplain (at Fort Hood) and said I wanted to make quilts for their wounded and he said there wasn't such a group,” Winter said. “I said ‘You're kidding right?' and he said ‘You're it lady.'”

The Thank You Quilters group, which started in January, has grown to 11 regulars and has since relocated to a back room at Ready to Sew Bernina. Winter said she is very thankful Ronna Hammel, the store's owner, offered her space to the group.

Winter is also the founder and coordinator for the Quilts for Fort Hood program, which has five or six groups throughout the state who also deliver quilts. Thank You Quilters is part of the program, which has delivered about 400 quilts to the Warrior Transition Brigade so far.

Another delivery of quilts will be made in December and Winter is hoping to have about 100 quilts to take to Fort Hood. While the group has no set goal, “we're just trying to get as many there as possible,” Winter said.

Quilts will be delivered year-round and “as long as there are wounded at Fort Hood,” said Winter.

The quilts are made at each person's personal expense and cost between $50 and $100 to make. On average, it takes more than 30 hours to complete a quilt.

They're more like throws than actual quilts, said Winter. “They're meant to be an expression of appreciation for their service to our country,” she said.

Thank You Quilters has also become an official community service organization of the Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild. The Thank You Quilters meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at

Ready to Sew Bernina in Cedar Park.

e-mail jenn@hillcountrynews.com

This story was originally published on November 28, 2008

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Hill Country News, Four Points News or Granite Publications.

Karen wrote on Jan 11, 2009 12:34 AM:

" I'm glad I ran across this article. What wonderful people to do this. My son was injured in Iraq and spent 6 months in Walter Reed. During his stay he received 2 quilts that sound similar to what the Thank You Quilters make. He was so excited. I was able to track down each of the women that made the quilts and my son sent them a thank you along with a photo of him holding the quilt. He received a call from one of the ladies and a letter from the other. The one that called, started crying on the phone as she told him that that was the last one she had planned on making that she didn't think they mattered. That is until his letter. She told him that she was going to keep making them because now she knows how important they are to the injured soldiers. He stayed in communication with her for a while. He transferred Fort Drum to Fort Hood at the beginning of 2008. I would like the Thank You Quilters to know just how much these mean to the soldiers even if they never hear directly from the ones that receive them. They are truly a blessing and very special people. My thank you's and gratitude goes out to each and every one of them. "

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