January 15, 2009

When Jaya Mae Gregory's beloved uncle was diagnosed with cancer, she made a quilt to comfort him. And when he passed away recently, she made it her mission to sew quilts that provide warmth and comfort to those living in poverty, illness, or fear.

Gregory founded Spirit Quilts, based in Newport Beach, California, in 2008. Gregory's uncle was a world traveler who experienced discrimination as a child growing up Indian in Nairobi, Kenya. So for her first Spirit Quilts endeavor, Gregory sought out organizations that aid immigrant children. Her search led her to Heartland Alliance.

Spirit Quilts' "Hearts for Heartland" project recruited dozens of school-aged volunteers and a local sewing group to make 100 quilts for the young participants at Heartland Alliance's International Children's Center and International Youth Center. These programs provide housing, counseling, case management, and family reunification services to unaccompanied immigrant children who have been detained by the Office of Homeland Security. Residents can live in the programs' dorms for several weeks or months while awaiting reunions with their families either in the U.S. or in their home countries, or placement in federal foster care.

Each one-of-a-kind quilt is personalized with a small fabric patch, which contains a prayer, a wish, or the occasional knock-knock joke written by the child volunteer who sewed the quilt.

Gregory visited the International Children's Center in November to present quilts to the young residents. Despite the frequent language barriers, the residents expressed their delight with the quilts, singing songs, and saying thanks through their translators. Ms. Gregory said that she enjoyed spending time with the children and looks forward to their next project.

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