By Bradd Vickers
NORWICH -- It was sad when Karen Kamsoke’s nephew Kurt Buchta, deployed
to Afghanistan as a company commander of 71 soldiers, was told about 13 of his
soldiers that don’t get anything from home. Kurt asked Karen if she would
consider adopting the 13 soldiers by sending packages and letters, etc., and
could she possibly make quilts for them. Karen, not thinking of the time
frame and work, said “of course.”
When Karen realized what she had committed to and not wanting
to let her nephew down, she contacted her quilting friends for help. They often
work on quilts at Sew Nice in Norwich, NY, owned by Diane Marvin. When Diane and
the staff heard about the project they were more than eager to assist. Diane put the word out about the project to quilters who
might be attending a quilt retreat she was planning the following Veterans Day
weekend and 75 women showed up. Hard to believe they now had 13 handmade quilts
for the soldiers.
Nancy Cody, one of the quilters working on the project, told
her friend Rainy Collins-Vickers, vice president of the McDonough Post 1478
Auxiliary, about the needs to deal with the cost of handling and shipping to
complete the project. Rainy immediately responded with,“That’s what the
American Legion does; help the men and women of the military.”
Rainy took the request for funding of the project to the
next meeting. Judy Baker, the unit president, was able to come up with the full
funding between American Legion, the Auxiliary and the Sons of the American
Legion (SAL). The packages were scheduled to arrive before the holidays.
Karen and Diane are now thinking how this could be an
ongoing project. For more information call Sew Nice 607-334-2477.
Auxiliary President Judy Baker
(right) presents check to Karen Kemsoke (center) and Diane Marvin to ship the quilts and goodies to soldiers.
