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The goal of the CCRP is to bring comfort to some very special members of the Canadian family in a time when they are experiencing deep hurt and profound loss.
"Nothing Says Comfort Like a QUILT" is the mantra of quilters. When a member of the Canadian Forces is lost in overseas operations, we have a quilt ready to give to the mother and the spouse or partner of the soldier.
The CCRP has been established to help quilters (and potential quilters)
to reach out in a tangible way and to literally wrap Canadian military
family members in an embrace of comfort and love from fellow Canadians who
care and want to reach out. In 2006, our first year, we sent 22
quilts to grieving mothers and spouses/partners of fallen Canadian
soldiers. In 2007, our second year, we presented 54 quilts. In
2008, we presented 24, and in 2009 we presented 21 quilts. The
project has been very well received. We are consistently receiving
quilts from volunteers across this land who want to help, and we are now
committed to continue the project as long as the loss of our military
personnel visits grief upon Canadian families.
When the CCRP began in early 2006, Jane was fearful that we would not be
able to provide enough quilts to answer the requests which came in to the
military's Casualty Support branch in Ottawa. As you read this now,
the landscape has changed dramatically. As of January, 2010 the
response from Canadian quilters has been almost overwhelming. We
have received so many quilts that we are now faced with the situation that
we will likely have quilts yet undesignated when the Canadian Forces are
scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan early in 2011. Specifically,
we have nearly 60 quilts on hand. And the number of casualties has
been lower for the past two years.
At the current rate we have quilts for more than two years of Canadian
Forces presence in Afghanistan, with no indication that the CF will be
deployed in any further strategic roles in the foreseeable future.
What that means is that we are no longer asking for quilts to be
started.
If you are in the process of finishing a quilt that has already been
started, we ask that you send it once it is completed. We will
continue to work together with our partners in the Casualty Support branch
of the Department of National Defense to offer all the quilts we have
received to grieving military families in a respectful way that honours
the sacrifice of both the family who have lost one of their own, and the
quilters who have given of their time, funds, effort and creative talents
to support them. If the situation changes and more quilts are
needed, we will update this website, and re-instate our request for your
help. We can't begin to express how thankful we are to the quilters
who have given so faithfully and lovingly to produce so many beautiful
quilts; and we know they will bring tremendous comfort to anyone who
receives one.
We owe a huge "thank you" to each and every fabric artist who
has
contributed to the CCRP: Jennifer, for creating the 'Maple Heart' (c)
block and letting us borrow space on her website, the CQA representatives
who helped us get the word out and ramp up the tremendous effort which has
resulted in approximately 175 quilts in only four years, the individuals
and groups who have created quilts for the project, our partners in DCSA
and DND, and also our faithful webmistress, Lolly, without whom we would
not be able to keep you up to date. Thank you very much, to all of
you.
We want you to know that your efforts have been a tremendous success, and that your love has touched the lives of Canadian families in their time of pain to bring them a true sense of comfort. We wish you "piece."
Jane and Ted Guthrie, Brockville, Ontario