Sarnia resident Ruth Johnston, a lifelong quilter with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) quilting circle, is working on comforters to be shipped to Ukraine, with hopes of aiding Gazan refugees when the current aid blockade lifts.
A Sarnia resident is dedicating her time to sewing quilts and comforters for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to provide aid to refugees abroad. Ruth Johnston is a volunteer member of the MCC quilting circle, an initiative that collects quilts, comforters, and blankets donated by members for those in need.
Johnston, who makes between 50 and 60 comforters a year for the MCC, currently has her quilts designated for Ukraine, where the need is described as "desperate". Her monetary donations, however, are designated for Gaza, where the MCC has been blocked from sending aid from North America, instead purchasing supplies like blankets and food from local sources to help. This year, the MCC has helped 1,000 households so far in the region.
The comforters are 60 x 80 inches in size to fit a single bed, and families are typically given multiple comforters. After she completes them, they are taken to New Hamburg, near Kitchener, where they are packed into bales and shipping containers along with other essential supplies like food, personal care kits, and school bags. From there, the containers go by rail to the port at Montreal before being shipped to their international destination.
Although her current batch is headed to Ukraine, Johnston hopes her quilts will go to Gaza when the current blockade opens up. She was motivated to increase her sewing for the MCC in the last two years due to the tragedy in Gaza, hoping the MCC and its local partners could deliver the aid.
"The need there is particularly haunting for me because of our complicity with what has happened there," Johnston said in a written reflection. "We are guilty as charged for not doing our homework to find out the real story of how the state of Israel has come about. We have given support to the settlers moving there and have not talked about the atrocities happening to the Palestinian people".
Johnston’s connection to the MCC and quilt-making is lifelong, as she was born and raised as a member of the Mennonite church. She learned quilt-making and "sewing circles" at home from her mother and has continued sewing for the MCC after moving to Sarnia. Since moving to Sarnia, she has made quilts for various local needs, but always some for MCC.
For her comforters, Johnston searches for affordable, new, or gently used fabric, buying discounted materials at Fabricland and local thrift shops for odds and ends. She uses coloured or printed cotton, polycotton blends, flannelette, and polyester that is not too thin. Coloured sheets work best for backing. The batting is sourced from New Hamburg at cost. She also accepts fabric donations from friends and family.
Johnston estimates that she spends about two days completing a single quilt if she could sew non-stop without interruptions. The time involved includes shopping for affordable fabric, cutting, preparing backs, and knotting. She has made 12 comforters in the past two months.
She is also sewing drawstring bags for the MCC that are filled with personal care and school supplies for refugees.
Johnston's inspiration includes a grandmother in Gaza featured in the MCC annual report whose home had only three walls left standing. "She is grateful for so little. How can I not share and be thankful for so much".
Johnston is putting out a call for fabric donations this holiday season. Those wishing to contribute materials can drop them off at her home at 33 Willow Glen Court, Sarnia.
