Local quilting group makes unique gifts for people in need

CENTERVILLE – Firehouse Quilts of Houston County has wrapped many people in warmth during their toughest hours. The organization partners with the Centerville Fire Department and donates handmade quilts to people in need. 

The organization was created by Patsy Ennis, who wanted to give back to the community. The group is made up of retired women who wanted something to do during the COVID-19 pandemic, so they decided to make quilts. 

Ennis is originally from Colorado, where she was involved in an organization called Firehouse Quilts. It started several years ago, and the organization donates its quilts to first responders, who then give them to a child or someone in need while on the job.

When Ennis first arrived in Houston County, she had yet to make connections, and she started spreading the word about Firehouse Quilts to local quilt stores.

She then went to the Centerville Fire Department and met Fire Chief Jason Jones. She thought that even if no one joined, she could still make enough quilts to give to the department.

“Chief Jones was willing to give out quilts as needed in the community because he knows everyone in the community, and he’s well known. So, he agreed, and we talked about the quality of quilts and the size of quilts,” she said.

Ennis continued posting flyers around the community, specifically at Couture Sewing and Birdhouse Quilts. She wanted to encourage more people to help the community with their quilts. 

She said people started dropping off quilts on her doorstep and eventually wanted to meet. Ennis went to Centerville City Hall, which offered her a room for them to meet.

Every month, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the members of Firehouse Quilts of Houston County gather at Centerville City Hall. They bring their sewing machines, brainstorm ideas, and create their quilts. The atmosphere is lively, with members entertaining themselves and even planning to celebrate Ennis’s birthday with cookies next month.

While there, they gather up scraps, their primary source of material, often having enough needed to make their quilt.

“What we do is take scraps, ideas and say, ‘Oh, there’s a pattern I wanted to try. I’ll try that. We gather up our scraps or if we have leftover material we’ll take over to the center when we meet every month, and we’ll have a free for all. Anybody can grab whatever fabric they want and sew with it,” she said.

She said they all share whatever they have and people drop off fabric for them as well.

“These women in Georgia are special. They have fabric that I would throw away and they make them into beautiful quilts. These ladies are talented,” she said.

The quilts are usually 45″ x 45″, on the smaller side, to make it easier to carry. Every quilt has a label that says “Firehouse Quilts of Houston County,” letting people know about the organization.

“I want people to know where they come from and that’s why we’re doing it,” she said.

After a quilt is finished, Ennis washes it and ensures it is safe for those with allergies. After washing and drying, she puts the quilts in a plastic bag and takes them to Jones. The quilts are then given out as needed for those who need a warm embrace. 

Jones keeps some for the department and gives out more quilts to other county fire departments and the warming center during colder months. Ennis said since the organization started, they have donated 142 quilts.

“Firefighters and police officers, they see people probably on the worst day of their lives. Sometimes you just need a hug or something nice,” she said.

Ennis shared that while living in Denver, she was at her dentist’s office and told the workers she worked for Firehouse Quilts. One of the workers said her son received one of the quilts when he was injured and still has it.

Jones told Ennis about a woman who came to the fire department in distress with her child. The woman and the child were panicking, and Jones wrapped the child in one of the quilts. 

Jones told Ennis he could see their anxiety going down and becoming more relaxed. They tried to return the quilt, but Jones said it was for them to keep. 

“That’s what we do. It’s so neat to give back to the community. We’re older women and we feel like, ‘Okay what do I do now?’ It’s hard to give back to the community when you’re older you’re a little on the disabled side. None of us see very well now, so it’s really neat to give back to the community,” she said.

Ennis hopes the organization will help all types of people in the community and assist them during their time of need. She believes a quilt can make a difference in someone’s life and it feels good to give back.

“We don’t know where they go or what they do, but we let the Lord take care of it. It feels good for us because we’re giving back to the community in any way that we can,” she said.

Joining the group is entirely free and Ennis encourages everyone, regardless of age or skill level, to get involved.