Spotlight - Jeanne Allen, Quilter and Newcomer Alumnus
Eight years ago when we realized our dream of moving to the mountains and Estes Park after visiting regularly for 30 years, I was particularly excited to have more time to pursue my passion of quilting. This interest was developed after owning a quilt shop in Iowa for nearly 12 years where there was never enough time to be creative after all the jobs of being a small business owner were complete.
I researched the various quilting groups in town and knew there was a quilt guild, Estes Valley Quilt Guild, and another group called Trail Ridge Quilters, affiliated with and supported by Estes Park Newcomers Club.
We eagerly attended a Newcomers Club Meeting a few days after we moved in, and I inquired about the quilting group. I learned that they were a Special Interest group of the Newcomers Club, meeting weekly at Estes Park Health in the Longs Peak room and making quilted items that are sold to the public. All proceeds go to Estes Park Health Foundation to buy items that directly benefit patient care. These items, requested through grant requests from the departments, are needed to enhance daily patient care. The group’s monies have purchased a variety of items from temporal thermometers to digital scales to colonoscopy equipment and so much more.
Why do I make items and then donate them rather than keeping them for myself or family? It’s a great way to use my quilting skills to benefit myself and other patients who use our local medical facility. By making items as small as a potholder or as large as a king-sized quilt, I get the satisfaction of creating an item and helping my local community as well. And then there is the added benefit of getting together with the other quilters and chatting as we work on our projects. For me, it’s a win-win situation.