January 29, 2002 Hello everyone just wanted to update you and let
you know that on January 26 the Varina Quilters were all honored at the
Witter Gallery at 609 Cayuga Street, Storm Lake Iowa.
January 21, 2002
Columbus DispatchAn article written by Mike Harden for the Columbus Dispatch
Paper in Columbus Ohio
January 11, 2002 This is a picture of the Tipping Family.
This picture was taken after we presented the quilt to Arlene Tipping on Good Morning America.
Arlene is John Tipping mother. Her only son was a firefighter. The three lovely
ladies are her beautiful daughters. That family is as beautiful inside as they are out.
This picture was taken in the Green Room at Good Morning America..
January 11, 2002Now that the holidays are over with it's time to
get back to work. As you all know we are starting all over again and this time
everyone has more time to finish their quilts to help with this cause. It's so important
that we all become united in this project for the sake of the families that lost so much.
This Christmas as I look at my family with love my heart aches for the families that lost so much.
Being in New York made me realize that after seeing the families that we need to do something
to comfort them. There were so many young mothers with little ones and now they
have to deal with all of the responsible. The young fathers with little children - the
pain in their faces as they came for the one thing they were hoping would give them
comforted. Do you know that your quilts will end up being keepsakes for these families.
Like a young man said the quilt he was getting was for his daughter. He will keep
it for her until she gets old enough to understand the meaning of it. A quilt in
honor of his wife for his daughter to keep. As I could see the pain in their faces
they could see the love in those quilts that were brought to New York. I'm asking
for more quilts. The need is great. We still need money donations to buy material and batting
and we need most of all completed quilts. The families love the patriotic quilts.
We have join together to bring some comfort, warmth, love, and most important
togetherness. Let us continue to give all the victims' families some kind of hope.
The 1554 quilts that I took to New York were all gone and even though we thought
that we were only going to give one quilt per family that was not what the Lord had in mind.
So please hlep me out let's start working on making quilts and let's get the 2500
quilts that we need to delivery this time to everyone. Thank you for caring. Betty.
December 26, 2001 Second Des Moines Register Article This is a letter
to the Editor it's the third or fouth letter. You can see what the quilts do for the families.
"A miracle from Iowa" Des Moines Register article
December 24, 2001 In Phase II I really want finished quilts. I didn't
get enough and I know everyone was so busy with the holidays but once the holiday
are all over there is no excuse. I wish you all could of been with me at Pier 94
where we got to delivery the quilts to the victims' families. Whether you know it
or not it made on heck of a different.These families cried when they received there
quilts. There was a little boy that pick up a quilt and wanted it even though it
was pink because of the words it had "JESUS LOVES ME". He looked at the quilt and
told his mom,"Jesus loves me mom". Alot of the families would touch the quilt they
wanted before even saying that was the one they wanted. There was plenty of tears
and hugs coming from the families. Alot of them would take them back to the Chaplains
and tell them look what a lovely gift we received from people that don't even know us.
Tears rolled down our eyes to see how well these quilts were wanted. The hardest
thing of all was not having enough quilts. So I'm begging this time you all have
plenty of time to get a quilt done. It doesn't have to be hand quilted or machine
quilted it can be tied. The look in these families faces was enough to make me want
to beg all of you quilters to help me get this done. If only you could see the faces
of the families you would agree with me and want to help out. There is no excuse
now the deadline is April 7th plenty of time to get quilts all done and ready to
go. We have enough quilters to keep spreading the word out and getting after the
press to keep it alive so the quilters will know that they need to get it done.
We have more quilters then what we need quilts so where are you??? It's a cry for
help to bring someone else a little warmth and comfort. Could you please be one of
those that would want to bring the comfort and warmth that they need.
Picture of us at Winter Wonderland in New York where the victims' families
received our quilts. Left to right. (Hubby) Dennis Nielsen, Denise (volunteer), Micky Mouse, Beulah Imming,
(me) Betty Nielsen, Minnie Mouse and Pat Archer. They would not allow cameras in Pier 94
to take pictures of the victim's families.
