When we heard about The American Patchwork & Quilting® One Million Pillowcase Challenge we knew we had to become involved in some way.  In its second year, the One Million Pillowcase Challenge encourages quilting and sewing enthusiasts to continue to help reach the goal of making and donating one million pillowcases to benefit local charities. Almost 250,000 pillowcases were created and donated in 2010.

It’s easy to turn a love of quilting and sewing into messages of comfort, hope and love – for a foster child, a cancer patient, victims of domestic violence, and others. Every pillowcase can make a difference in the local community.

Hearing the stories about how something as simple as a pillowcase to call ‘one’s own’ could so positively impact a person was very moving. That something so ordinary could make a person feel extraordinary was a real ‘eye-opener’.  We also like the fact that to sew a pillowcase is relatively easy.  Meaning, even the most beginner sewer or someone who has never sewn before can participate. To embellish one with some ribbon, applique art, or embroidery is a lot of fun too. What a great project for a high school home economics class, youth or community group…

We chose to become a corporate sponsor but more than that we want to help spread the word about this initiative.  We encourage you to get a small group together to make some pillowcases for a local shelter, retirement home, church group or foster child program (the list of organizations that would gladly accept some handmade pillowcases is endless).

To find out how you can make a difference in your community, visit 
allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases.