Quilt raffle in Greenfield to benefit Ukrainian refugees
Published: 05-21-2023 2:01 PM |
GREENFIELD — Following the success of its last raffle fundraiser, a group of local volunteers is raffling off a handmade Friendship Star quilt to benefit Ukrainian refugees who relocated to the area.
The quilt, which will be on display at The Textile Co. through June 30, was sewn by local quilters, led by Marjorie Reid, a longtime sponsor of fundraising efforts. A similar quilt raffle held last year raised money for four Afghan refugees who resettled in Greenfield.
“We’ve had, over the years, a constant stream of refugees relocating in western Mass. — from Africa, from Central America. There are several different charities in the area who have been working steadily on resettling these people,” said Tim Blagg, who is among the people involved in the fundraiser. “The Ukrainians are just the latest.”
Blagg said raffle ticket proceeds will be sent to the Springfield-based Catholic Charities Agency, which has established a fund to help resettle Ukrainian refugees.
“As is the case with any of these cases, they’re being driven out of their country over things they have no control over,” Blagg said of the refugees.
Tickets will be sold individually for $2 or three tickets for $5. The last fundraiser, which took place early last year, raised a few thousand dollars, according to Blagg.
“People were very generous,” he said. “I think people are generous when they have a chance to win something as beautiful as a hand-sewn quilt.”
The Textile Co. is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.