Pacific Northwest United Methodist Women collect 262 quilts for those in need

By Janice Bronkema | Photos by Aaron Pazan

Churches in the Pacific Northwest Conference continued the longtime tradition of donating quilts to the United Methodist Women (UMW) at Annual Conference this year.

The PNW UMW have been making and collecting quilts since 1989 when Pastor Gordon Harrison asked the UMW if they could make quilts for babies born with AIDS. A year or two later, quilts were brought to Annual Conference for display before being distributed. The UMW have distributed thousands of quilts since 1989. Each quilt is lovingly made with the hope of giving a bit of happiness to someone in need. The making, collecting and distributing of quilts is a tradition the United Methodist Women are proud to carry on.

Thanks to the quilters of 38 churches in our conference, we were able to continue that tradition. This year, the United Methodist Women received 262 beautifully crafted quilts. Thank you to everyone for giving so generously of your time, expenses and skills each year to bring a bit of love and happiness to others.

The United Methodist Women presidents of the six districts in the PNW are each given quilts to be distributed to mission agencies in their areas. These agencies aid women, youth, children and babies. Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery in Spokane; Cocoon House in Everett; Vida’s Ark in Vancouver; Atlantic Street Center in Seattle; and Tacoma Community House are just a few organizations this ministry supports.

Janice Bronkema serves as the Seattle District United Methodist Women President. Aaron Pazan is a student and attends Portland: Portsmouth Union Church.