Teams from across the area are coming together for a one-day effort to piece log cabin quilt tops for the girls of The Covering House. The Covering House is a place of refuge and restoration for girls age 6 to 18 who have experienced sexual trafficking in St. Louis.
It’s the Quilt Blitz, to be held Saturday, May 19, noon to 8 p.m. at IBEW Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave.
At the Quilt Blitz, women from all different faith communities and friendship groups will create log cabin quilts for the girls in their new home. “We are creating quilts, raising awareness of the issue, and building a community of people who are bringing hope and healing to the girls,” says Piera, originator and co-organizer of the Quilt Blitz.
The faith partnership behind the Quilt Blitz began with two congregations, First Unitarian Church of St. Louis and Central Reform Congregation, but has grown to include many area faith groups, including Church Women United, Kirkwood Baptist Church and The Journey Church.
“We want these girls to know from the moment they step into The Covering House that there is a whole community of people who are cheering for them,” said event co-chair Piera, a member of First Unitarian Church of St. Louis.
“The quilts are a gift of love – from the union members who are generously opening their hall for the event, the women and men who will sew the quilts, and the faith communities planning and supporting the event.”
Jen Bersdale, event co-chair and staff member of Central Reform Congregation, adds, “We know it will take a village – our whole community – to help these girls find hope and healing. This event is one part of those efforts – an opportunity to raise awareness, build community, and create a special gift for the girls.”
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local One is providing their hall and electrical power for the sewing machines.
St. Louis was once the biggest slave market in Missouri. It is now the 13th-worst city in the U.S. for the trafficking of young girls, because it is located at a nexus of transportation routes.
The log cabin quilt square is The Covering House logo. During slavery, escaping slaves would look for a log cabin quilt square in the window to identify safe houses. The Covering House is creating a new, safe home for the girls. Piera, the IBEW, the faith community, and the Quilt Blitz are helping them do just that.
Piera, who is an internationally exhibited artist, will curate a show of the quilts for The National Quilt Museum at Paducah, Kentucky to tell the story of this event.
At The Quilt Blitz, each team of 4-5 people will design and stitch one quilt top that day. Volunteer quilters will finish them.
“Send a team. Pass the word. We just need your loving presence and a willingness to sew!” says Piera. There is no cost to participate.
For more information about The Covering House go to www.thecoveringhouse.org. If you would like to register a team, go to www.centralreform.org/quiltblitz. Non-quilting volunteers are also appreciated. For questions or to make a fabric donation, contact Piera at StudioPiera@att.net.
New Northside says, ‘WOW’
The Women of the New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, 8645 Goodfellow Blvd., hosted their first “WOW Gathering,” Women Only Worship, on Friday, May 11. The service brought women together of all faiths to pray, praise and worship together in the spirit of “Christian Womanhood.” The Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ, Florissant was the guest preacher. “WOW, didn’t our hearts burn within as the amazing power of God poured out upon us,” said Minister Carol Russell of New Northside.
