Bethlen Almanac 2001 (Ligonier)

The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America

For a day, the home was filled with aromas of dishes yet unknown and the offices were turned into showcases resembling miniature folk museums of different nationalities. Sari’s office became a small Hungarian exhibit. After lunch, Ralph and his instrument were the center of all attention. He started to play and in no time the whole nursing home was accompanying him - each in his or her own way. “It was heartwarming to observe,” Ralph said, “how patients in wheelchairs perform dancing motions with their hands on wheelchair handles. Some patients were overcome with emotion when they heard tunes from their young days. It seems that the direct human-to-human contact is far more effective and therapeutic than any mechanical gadget provided in our times.” Thank you, Ralph, for providing much joy for a day at the home.

Teri Pflum, Br. Manager, Br. 300, Washington, D.C.

Operation Quilts for Kids

In August, 2000 the inspiration for Quilts for Kids came to Linda Arye. While placing an order for an interior design client, she noticed more than 20 industrial-size trash bags filled with discontinued fabric to be thrown out. She determined that the only thing to do with samplesized swatches of designer fabric was to make something patchwork from them. She then remembered that when her own daughter was in the hospital, she was not allowed to have her “bear-bear” to hold because of allergens. Linda knew that if her daughter had something small to hold onto that could be washed often, the experience would have been less frightening. These two ideas meshed to create Quilts for Kids.

Linda thought she could find people in the community and teens in schools to make crib-sized patchwork quilts which could be given to children in cancer and AIDS wards and to battered and abused children. By January, Quilts for Kids, Incorporated received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS.

As of February, 2002, over 1,000 individuals have quilted well-over 2,000 beautiful patchwork quilts, and the üst keeps growing. Numerous organizations, including the fabric houses of the Philadelphia Marketplace Design Center, have contributed. Schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have made Q4K their service project. Aetna U.S. Health Care Volunteer Network is among the many corporate and individual volunteers who have spent countless hours quilting. Dozens of quilts have already been donated to battered and abused children, and to children with cancer, leukemia and cardiovascular diseases. Quilts for Kids has pledged

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