The Buddy Pal for Life Fund

Quilting Club Information

In addition to providing a "Hope Package" to the newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia our organization also will be making and donating quilts to the oncology unit at CHOP.  Our small group of volunteers, mainly teenagers and a few adults, are making and donating the quilts on February 21 to celebrate the day our son, Zachary was born and also on October 11 to celebrate the day he died and became an angel. Our goal is to donate over 90 quilts a year to pediatric oncology patients.  With the dedication of our volunteers,  we know we will give the children something they will cherish for a long time.   Our son, Zachary received a quilt from "Quilts for Kids"  while he was in the hospital during one of his many admissions.  He called the quilt, "my magic quilt".  Zachary would always cover himself with the quilt every night and he brought it back and forth to the hospital during his stays.  He said it was made with love and it always would make him feel special because another child made it for him!  Our other two children wanted to honor Zachary's memory in this special way so our quilting club was started.

Here's a picture of some of our volunteers who made quilts for our organization.  On February 21, 2003, Zachary's 8th birthday, our organization donated 54 quilts to the oncology unit at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  Our volunteers completed 37 quilts and Quilts for Kids donated 17 of the quilts we gave out in memory of our son.

On February 21, 2004 our fund donated 42 quilts to the oncology unit at CHOP.  These quilts were made by our quilting volunteers, some of whom are pictured here.  Also on October 11, 2003 our volunteers made and donated  47 quilts to the patients on the oncology unit at CHOP.

With the help of our many volunteers, including many of our children's friends, friends of our family and some of our family members, we have made over 390 quilts since the start of our quilting group in January of 2003.  We couldn't continue our efforts without all of the love and time that our dedicated  volunteers put into each and every quilt that they have made. It takes between six and fourteen hours (depending on how complicated the quilt design is) for the kids to pick out, design, cut and then sew together each one of their quilts. It gives them a great sense of accomplishment and pride when they finally complete and then sign their quilts. Some of our volunteers have been with us since the beginning of our quilt group and some make a quilt or two.  We greatly appreciate all the time and energy each and everyone of them have given our fund. On October 11, 2004, 44 quilts were made and donated.  On February 21, 2005 (Zach's 10th birthday), 37 quilts and 3 pillowcases were made and donated.  On October 11, 2005, 40 quilts were made and donated.  Also, on February 21, 2006 (Zach's 11th birthday), 40 quilts were made and donated to the pediatric oncology patient and CHOP. On October 11, 2006, 43 quilts were given out to the patients---many thanks to girl scout troop #828 for dedicating 30 hours of community service to our fund.  On February 21, 2007, Zach's 12th birthday,  our volunteers made and donated 44 quilts/blankets to the oncology patients---a big thank you goes out to West Chester University's WCAEYC group.  With our deepest appreciation to all who are committed to make a quilt and give an oncology patient at CHOP a reason to smile!

*If you wish to help us by making and donating a quilt we will make sure it is delivered to the oncology unit at CHOP either in February or October.  Please make sure it is at least 40" wide by 40" long and also that it is all machine stitched---the quilts are washed quite frequently and machine stitching holds up better.  Please mail it to:  The Buddy Pal for Life Fund, 634 Turner Ave Drexel Hill, PA 19026  We wish to thank all those who help us spread love, hope and smiles to the pediatric oncology patients at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

More quilt pictures

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