Last Updated on 06/01/23 by Rose Palmer
Do You love to quilt or sew but don’t know what to do with everything you make? Is your fabric stash getting unmanageably large? Do you have too many UFO’s (unfinished objects)? Do you have fabrics you are no longer thrilled with? Do you have bins full of scraps? Do you have too many quilt patterns you want to try?
If you are asking yourself “where can I donate quilts”, there are a large number of organizations that are thrilled to receive finished quilts or quilting supplies. I’ve put together this comprehensive list of places where to donate quilts to charity to make it easy for you.
There are many reasons quilters love to quilt. For some it’s a creative outlet that uses fabric as the pallet. Other’s like the act of making something that provides comfort and joy when it is used. And most of us like the act of giving a quilt knowing it will be used with love.
But once you’ve made and given out four or five quilts to every member of your family, to your child’s teachers for their first baby or graduation gifts for your friends’ kids – then what? The fabric stash doesn’t seem to get any smaller and the sewing machine does not like to gather dust.
So, if you are looking for outlets that need your sewing and quilting love, consider making quilts or blankets or sewing for charitable organizations. Pick you favorite quilt pattern and donate your quilts to share your passion to bring joy to other.
I started out by looking for places for quilt donations near me. Then, over time, I developed a long list of places to donate quilts, fabric and sewing supplies to charity. I am sharing my list of organizations where you can donate quilts and quilting supplies. I have also added some sites that are looking for simple sewn projects like pillow cases and easy girl’s dresses.
However, before you send off your lovingly made creation, please check the agency’s website for their donation requirements and make sure you follow their specifications.
And if you are looking for ways to use up your leftover fabric to make the back of your quilts as interesting as the front, be sure to also look at my 18 Ideas For A Unique Pieced Backing For Quilts post.
Happy sewing!
Where to Donate Quilts for Charity
A Quilt For Mother’s Tears
The mission of A Quilt for Mother’s Tears, Inc. is to help comfort the mothers of police officers killed in the line of duty by creating quilts to honor the brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving their communities.
http://aquiltformotherstears.org/
ABC Quilts
ABC Quilts (At Risk Babies and Children’s Quilts) was founded to give love and comfort to at-risk babies in the form of a handmade quilts.
https://www.americanmothers.org/abc-quilts/
Aids Quilt Project
Submit a panel to remember the name of a loved one impacted by AIDS.
https://www.aidsmemorial.org/make-a-panel
American Hero Quilts
American Hero Quilts We was established to provide a recognition and an appreciation to our wounded service men and women who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
http://americanheroquilts.com/
Bags of Love
The purpose of Bags of Love is to provide necessities and comfort items to children who are in crisis due to neglect, abuse, poverty or homelessness. Each bag contains basic necessities and a quilt or blanket.
Binky Patrol
Handmade baby quilts and blankets (sewn, quilted, knitted, crocheted , knitted or fleece) are collected and distributed to children in need across the US. Yarn and fabric can also be donated.
https://binkypatrol.org/index.cfm
Care Wear
Care Wear provides hand made articles, including blankets and quilts, directly to hospitals and social service agencies to be distributed directly to patients.
Cases for Smiles
Making unique pillow cases to help children in hospitals as they are going through a difficult time.
Coffee Creek Quilters
Coffee Creek Quilters teaches quilting classes to women incarcerated at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, OR. Material and supplies donations welcome.
http://coffeecreekquilters.org/
Compassion Quilts
Compassion Quilts believes it takes a community to support a child. They are happy to take your unneeded fabric, thread and batting.
https://www.compassionquilts.org/
Dolls of Hope
Dolls of Hope believes every child should have a special toy to cherish. They are looking for people to make stuffed dolls and bears using the free pattern they provide. These are then sent to children in refugee camps and children in crisis.
https://www.facebook.com/dollsofhopeinternational/
Dress a Girl Around the World
Dresses A Girl Around the World believes that every girl deserves at least one pretty dress. They provide simple, colorful dresses to girls in need all over the world. Check the website for pattern information.
https://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/
Forever Warm
Forever Warm donates blankets of all types to comfort grieving parents after the loss of a baby.
Firehouse Quilts of Colorado
Firehouse Quilts is a group of volunteers that make and donate quilts to Colorado fire departments, ambulance companies, Denver Health Medical Center, victim advocate offices, county social and human service agencies and Douglas County Women’s Crisis Center to be given in time of crisis.
http://www.firehousequilts.org/
Freedom Quilts
Freedom Quilts is dedicated to the mission of comforting mourning families. Throughout the past years, our efforts have been dedicated to those families who have lost a loved one in the 9/11 tragedy and to the families of our fallen soldiers. Through the gift of a quilt, we strive to comfort these families and preserve the honor and memory of their loved ones.
HeartStrings Quilt Project
HeartStrings Quilt Project is an online group of quilters who have joined together to make and donate String Quilts to local charitable organizations.
https://heartstringsquiltproject.com/
Little Dresses of Africa
Little Dresses of Africa provides relief to vulnerable children throughout the Continent of Africa and beyond. Volunteers join together to make little dresses out of pillow cases or other simple patterns to plant in the hearts of little girls that they are worthy.
https://littledressesforafrica.org/
Million Pillowcase Challenge
Make a pillowcase to make a difference.
http://millionpillowcases.allpeoplequilt.com/
My Very Own Blanket
Fleece blankets of quilts for children in foster care.
https://www.myveryownblanket.org/
Newborns in Need
Newborns in Need is a charity organized to help take care of needy babies. NIN volunteers provide care necessities to agencies and hospitals serving premature, ill, or impoverished newborns. Newborns In Need distributes items free of charge to babies in the United States.
19 Quilts for Natalie
No mother should have to bury her child. 19 Quilts for Natalie provides quilts to comfort grieving mothers to help them as they are working through their loss.
https://www.19quiltsfornatalie.com/
Ovarian Cancer Quilt Project
The MD Anderson Cancer Center uses the funds from biannual online quilt auctions to educate the public about ovarian cancer.
Project 70,273
Jeanne Hewell-Chambers was inspired to do a project to commemorate the 70,273 disabled victims that were killed b the Nazis in 1940-41. She has a goal to produce one quilt block with two red Xs for each one of the 70,273 victims., and to make as many as 1200 quilts out of the blocks. She is always looking for help with the piecing and quilting (you can read my story about this project here ).
http://www.thebarefootheart.com/
Project Linus
Project Linus provides homemade blankets to children in need.
Project Night NIght
Each Night Night package contains a book, a blanket and a stuffed animal and is donated to homeless children. New handmade quilts are accepted.
http://www.projectnightnight.org/
Project Warm Embrace
Project Warm Embrace is looking for quilts and Dream Bags for foster children in the northeastern Kansas region.
http://starlightquilters.com/project_warm_embrace
Quilts Beyond Borders
Quilts Beyond Borders is an all-volunteer non-profit organization which reaches out to under-served children, mainly orphans, across the world to provide a handmade quilt and spread love and hope.
https://quiltsbeyondborders.wordpress.com/about/
Quilts from Caring Hands
Quilts from Caring Hands (QCH) makes and distributes quilts at no charge to Oregon’s children-at-risk: the homeless, those in foster care, drug addicted, HIV positive, visually impaired, abused, as well as infants of teen mothers.
http://www.quiltsfromcaringhands.com/
Quilts for Cops
Quilts for cops provides comfort for law enforcement officers and first responders that have been injured in the line of duty.
Quilts for Kids
Quilts for Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming fabrics into patchwork quilts to comfort children facing serious illness, injury or trauma.
Quilts of Honor
The mission of Quilts of Honor is to bestow a universal symbol and token of thanks, solace, and remembrance to those who serve in harm’s way to protect and defend our lives and freedoms
https://www.quiltsofhonor.org/
Quilts of Valor
The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
Quilt Outreach
Quilt Outreach is a volunteer-run group that makes hundreds of quilts each year in weekly and annual gatherings. For over twenty years, quilts have been distributed to charitable organizations and homeless shelters in the greater Cincinnati area.
https://sites.google.com/site/quiltoutreach/home
Quilts That Care
Wrapping Cancer Patients and their Families in Comfort and Hope, One Quilt at a Time
Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald houses provide homes for families that have to travel long distances to get medical care for their children. The best way to donate quilts to Ronald McDonald House is to call the local chapter nearest you and ask how you can help.
https://www.rmhc.org/find-a-chapter
Serving With Smiles
Serving With Smiles is a kid powered program serving kids around the world that puts together kits for quarterly projects. Their May Newborn Kits need baby blankets as well as fabric for other projects.
http://www.servingwithsmiles.org/p/what-we-need-right-now.html
Sew Purposeful
Based in Texas, Sew Purposeful id looking for handmade items, including quilts, to provide to hospitals, shelters, the homeless and other in need.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Sleep in Heavenly peace provides beds and bedding for children that don’t have any. They have local chapters throughout the US.
Snuggled in Hope
The mission of Snuggled in Hope is to provide a handmade quilt and pillowcase for each camper that attends summer session of camp at Flying Horse Farms, and a quilts for each family that attends a spring or fall Family Camp. Flying Horse Farms is located a few miles outside of Mt. Gilead, OH and is part of Paul Newman’s Serious Fun Children’s Network-a place where children diagnosed with a serious illness can be a kid and where camp is good medicine.
http://www.snuggledinhopequilts.com/
The Giving Quilt
The Giving Quilt, Inc. is a charitable organization that promotes the creation and presentation of quilts that provide comfort to children and adults, and works to increase public awareness with a biennial public quilt exhibit and presentation ceremony.
https://thegivingquiltinc.wordpress.com/
The Sleeping Bag Project
If you are looking to donate quilts to homeless people then look into My Brother’s Keeper Quilt Group. They are made up of individuals and groups desiring to help the homeless by making simple sleeping bags from recycled fabrics and distributing them FREE to those who need them.
http://www.thesleepingbagproject.org/
Tiny Stitches
Tiny Stitches is an all volunteer group that was organized to help North Georgia’s smallest, neediest new residents stay dry and warm.
Victoria’s Quilts
Victoria’s Quilts provides handmade quilts to a specific cancer patient or treatment facility.
http://www.victoriasquilts.com/
Victoria’s Quilts Canada
If you want to know where to donate quilts in Canada, Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) provides handmade quilts to people living with cancer in Canada.
https://www.victoriasquiltscanada.com/
Wrap Them in Love
Wrap Them in Love collects donated quilts and distributes them to children around the world, so they can be wrapped in love and comfort.
https://www.wraptheminlove.org/
Other suggested organizations for quilt donations:
For other ideas for donating quilts locally consider some of the following:
- Local hospitals, especially children’s hospitals,
- NICU units
- Veteran’s hospitals
- Local police station – officers use them to provide comfort at accident scenes
- Local fire stations – to provide comfort for victims of fires
- Women’s prisons
- Women’s shelters
- YMCA women’s shelters
- Domestic violence centers
- Homeless shelters
- Maternity homes
- Pregnancy resource centers
- Crisis pregnancy centers
- Family crisis centers
- Children’s centers
- Area foster children programs
- Local child welfare
- Lap quilts for handicapped in wheelchairs and those living in low income handicapped apartments
- Nursing homes – especially those with Alzheimer’s patients appreciate fidget quilts
- Long term convalescent homes
- Veteran’s nursing homes
- Local VA
- Salvation Army
- Local churches for donations
- Animal shelters
- Local quilt guilds – most guilds have a community service program
- Placemats for Meals on Wheels
Do you have thoughts or comments about this post? Do you have other organizations that should be added to this list? I would love to hear from you by e-mail at quiltripping@gmail.com
Other quilting related posts you may enjoy:
A list of fun and unique quilting classes: My Wish List of Unique Quilting Classes, Quilting Workshops, Quilting Retreats and Quilting Holidays to Inspire Your Next Creative Adventure
Tips for seeing the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show: Tips for Seeing the Sisters Quilt Show
A list of Alaska quilt shops: Discover The Best Alaska Quilt Shops to Visit on Your Next Quilting Cruise
What it’s like to take a class with Kaffe Fasset: Making a Kaffe Fasset Quilt – Taking a Class With the Master of Glorious Color
How to make a reversible scrub hat: A Reversible, Free Scrub Cap Pattern With Easy Instructions
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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