Bear Paws Studio is actively involved in contributing our quilts to organizations within our community, state, and country. Throughout the years we have donated quilts for many charitable causes including:
Gifts of Love, Avon Connecticut http://www.giftsoflovect.org/where.htm
Gifts of Love in Avon, Connecticut supports families in crisis. Their mission is: “To help meet the basic needs of individuals and families experiencing a temporary financial crisis so they can achieve or maintain self-sufficiency.” Gifts of Love in Avon, Connecticut supports families in crisis. Bear Paws Studio created a quilt portraying the essence of how Gifts Of Love assists families.
Caring for Kevin http://www.gdeichurch.org/serve/caring.html
Kevin was 11 when he was diagnosed with a immune system disorder that required a bone marrow transplant. Our community banded together with several benefits sponsored by his church, school, and Cub Scout Troop to assist his family with the enormous amount of medical costs. Bear Paws Studio made a quilt specifically for Kevin and raffled it off during one of the many events. The amazing thing about the quilt raffle was that Kevin’s grandmother won the quilt! We are happy to say that Kevin is doing well and experiencing the many joys of childhood. The initial idea of Caring for Kevin boomeranged into an organization called Caring for Kids, helping many children and families in our community. Click onto the above link to find out more information!
Hurricane Katrina Quilts Quilters Comfort America/Quilts for Comfort http://layersofmeaning.org/wp/?p=249
We watched with disbelief along with our country as the devastation of Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana and surrounding states. The call for quilts for the storm refugees in Houston was made from creater and sponsor Karey Patterson Bresenhan, director of the International Quilt Festival. We gathered friends and relatives and produced 12 quilts in one week that made their way to Houston.
Learning Disability Association of Connecticut http://www.ldact.org/index.htm
The Learning Disability Association of Connecticut is an organization near and dear to our hearts. From their website: “LDA of Connecticut is a non-profit organization of parents, professionals, and persons with learning disabilities. We are dedicated to promoting a better understanding of learning disabilities and securing appropriate educational and employment opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities and related disorders.” The family advocates at LDA volunteer their time, resources and vast experiences to assist families in need. Bear Paws Studio regularly donates items for their annual fund driving.
St Andrew Lutheran Church, Bristol CT – Youth Mission Program – Work Camp http://www.standrewct.org/Default.asp
The St. Andrew Lutheran Church Youth Group attends a one-week work camp each summer. The work camp is made up of several youth groups from around the country. The work camp is designed to assist communities with such tasks as fixing porches, painting rooms, and building wheelchair ramps. Campers must pay their way and Bear Paws Studio has donated quilts for their annual fundraising campaign.