From "The Sentinel Greater Media News," East Brunswick, NJ

Quilt-a-thon held to help Kosovar Refugees

By Jennifer Micale

July 21, 1999

While Kosovar refugees are returning to their war-torn homeland, a hard road lies ahead. Homes, livelihoods and lives destroyed by war and intolerance must be rebuilt in time for Eastern Europe's harsh winter.

The refugees' plight inspired township resident Kevan Lunney, a nighttime quilting instructor at the East Brunswick campus of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. Last month, Lunney conducted an all-day Quilt-a thon on the campus to benefit the refugees.

"The trick is to use the skills you have to contribute to society," she said.

Lunney's sister, Carla Gutches of Westerville, Ohio, supplied her with the idea. Gutches participated in a n Ohio quilters retreat conducted by a local quilt shop to benefit a shelter for victims of domestic violence.

The idea percolated in the quilting instructor's mind until she was, quite literally at a crossroads.

"One day, after dropping the kids off at school, I thought I could turn left and go ask the Vo-Tec if I could have a quilt-a-thon. Or, I could turn right and go grocery shopping, "she explained.

In the spur of the moment, Lunney decided to go to the school and ask for permission. Administrators were enthusiastic about the idea and gave her permission to use the campus one hour later.

The Vocational and Technical School was not the only organization interested in supporting the event. RJR Fabrics of California donated 120 yards of cloth, Quilters Barn of Allentown, NJ donated 12 yards and South Seas Imports of California donated 34 yards. Manhattan Bagel and the Olive Garden donated lunch and dinner for the June12 event, respectively, and Wal-Mart gave $50 in door prizes. The State Quilting Guild of NJ also helped out, donating three rolls of batting and numerous quilt kits, and letting Lunney use their mailing list.

"We got an overwhelming positive response," Lunney noted.

Running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. the event attracted 41 quilters from 17 different towns across the state, as well as Lunney's sister from Ohio. While the bulk of the participants were experienced quilters between ages 40 to 70, five children, including several Girl Scouts, also came along.

"We put them in charge of tying the quilts," Lunney said.

A 13 year-old girl donated her very first quilt to the refugee effort. East Brunswick had its own contingent with township Clerk Betty Kiss, who not only publicized the event but made 20 quilts with her group.

The event also attracted the notice of a Colorado University anthropology student home on her summer break. She came to the event to research quilts as a female form of communication, Lunney said.

Not only a popular hobby, quilting has much to teach, from women's studies and sociology to mathematical concepts such as the golden rectangle, she said.

In an effort to help the refugees, the quilting instructor had a definite goal in mind.

"I had a fantasy, 100 quilts would be made that day," she said.

Quilters didn't quite achieve that goal, instead creating 63 quilts during the 12 hour period. However, they did assemble kits to take home and ultimately meet the quota. As of Friday, Lunney far exceeded the goal with 132 quilts ready for shipment.

"We're still getting quilts every day." She said.

Using Americares of Connecticut, Lunney hopes to ship the quilts to Kosovo by the end of this month or early August.

"They'll be over in Europe by October, before people start freezing to death," she said.

The event did not escape the notice of Mayor William Neary, who issued a proclamation commending the endeavor.

"I can only imagine how important a quilt would be to children who are refugees now," he said.