Meridian Civitan Club hosts quilt fund-raiser for Habitat

By Ida Brown / senior staff writer

March 23, 2008 01:17 am

— It has been said that quilts are like friends – a great source of comfort and warmth.
In that same vein, the Meridian Civitan Club is being a friend to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate by way of a quilt fund-raiser.
"All the money that is raised from this event will go to Habitat for construction projects," said Joyce Neal, president-elect of the local community service club.
The featured quilt is the handiwork of longtime Habitat supporters Bob and Helen Cunningham, who are both in their 80s, said Habitat Executive Director Fonda Rush. The quilt was created from a kit donated to the former Habitat ReStore.
"The kit was for a Mexican Star pattern quilt and they (Cunninghams) agreed to make it as a fund-raiser for Habitat," Rush said. "She does the piecing and he does the stitching – by hand."
Tickets are currently being sold by Civitan members at $2 for 1 ticket and $5 for three tickets. Proceeds will go toward construction of two homes in conjunction to the Jimmy and Roslyn Carter Work Project. This year's project will be held May 11-16 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
"This is The Carters 25th year of being involved with Habitat for Humanity," Rush said. "They chose the Gulf Coast region for their work project this year because they want to make people more aware of how much is still needed to rebuild Mississippi and Louisiana."
Habitat affiliates previously involved with the Hurricane Katrina and Rita Recovery (the Meridian affiliate participated) will receive funds from The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity International for the project. The local affiliate will construct two homes in Meridian.
"Even though we have those grants, they are not enough to build the houses," Rush said. "So the money from the quilt fund-raiser will go for that. One of the homes will be for our last hurricane family."
In addition to Meridian Civitan Club members, several Habitat board members have tickets. The drawing will be held April 1.
For more information, contact Joyce Neal at (601)693-9728; Gina Conner, president of Meridian Civitan Club, at (601) 938-6409; or the Habitat for Humanity office at (601)485-4992.

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