Ashe Piecemakers help troops celebrate Christmas

By Joel Frady

There may not be many Ashe County-grown Frasier Firs or jolly old men dressed as Santa in the Middle

East, where American soldiers are currently fighting in two separate fronts in the war on terror, but the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild felt they could personally help soldiers enjoy some Christmas cheer with a little touch of home. Although they can't personally decorate a tree in Iraq or cook a turkey dinner in Afghanistan, they found their own way to send the spirit, along with a few goodies, to the soldiers.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, members of the Quilt Guild met at the Ashe Services for Aging Senior Center in West Jefferson to pack more than 40 boxes with stockings and stocking-stuffers to mail overseas. Guild representative Lynda Harris said that they " wanted to just thank everybody for their service and thank their families for their sacrifice." She noted that each stocking was unique and hand-made by a guild member, and that a contest was held to help raise the funds needed to fill and mail the stockings.

"We asked the public to vote on the stocking they liked best by putting a dollar in the corresponding stocking," she said, adding that the stockings were on display at the Ashe County Armed Forces Tribute in August and the Quilt Guild's Show in September and that they had "a fantastic response."

Guild member Mary Rodgers said that the only limitation members had when making the stockings "was their own creativity, so every stocking is different, and we've enjoyed that."

The stockings were filled with a variety of goods, including but not limited to: a toothbrush, playing cards, puzzle books, candy, yo-yos, pillow cases, hand-washing materials, crackers, beef jerky, packets of drink mix (like Gatorade), a copy of the Ashe Mountain Times and a form letter from the guild.

Harris said that the packages were sent to both soldiers that live in Ashe County and those with connections to the county.

"They are all people who have a connection to Ashe County," she said. "They don't have to live here, but they have to have someone living here."

Rodgers added that the guild picks one project to focus on each year, and that the Christmas stocking project was "a labor of love from us to them.

"There's nothing political about this at all," she noted. "It's just to say 'thank you' in this very political year."

Rodgers said that most of the packages were mailed later Thursday afternoon once they were stuffed so that the packages would reach the troops in time for Christmas. Harris noted that while they sent out more than 40, the guild still hopes to send a few more.

The Ashe County Piecemaker's Quilt Guild meets the second Tuesday of every month from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Senior Center. To find out more about the guild or to nominate a soldier to receive a Christmas stocking package, contact the guild at (336) 246-2545 or (336) 246-3230.