Glade Quilters give back to community

In March 2001, a small group of Glade ladies met to discuss a way to give back to the community.  

They decided to form a quilting group that would meet weekly at the clubhouse to design, assemble and sew comfort quilts for babies.  All materials and equipment were donated by the quilters and their friends.  So began the organization called Glade Quilts for Kids. In 2004 they changed their name to Glade Quilters because they wanted to expand their quilts to include those for adults, veterans and the homeless.  

To date they have donated over 4,500 quilts.  Recipients include Bayhealth in Dover and Milford, Sussex County Women’s Shelter, the Delaware Veterans Home, Little Sisters of the Poor, Harbor Healthcare, the Cancer Support Community, Kody’s Kids, Cape Henlopen Senior Center, Rehoboth Community Resource Center Baby Pantry, the homeless shelter in Rehoboth and Sweet Peas.

They have also donated quilts to various community groups that raise funds for those who are experiencing difficulties, those collecting for victims of natural disasters and to holiday programs including Stockings for Soldiers, Cookies for the Military and Home Instead.  During the pandemic, the ladies made masks at home for area hospitals.

In 2016 the quilters received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Glade community for their many years of community service.

In 2019 they were nominated and received the Volunteer of the Year Award for Sussex County from Gov. John Carney at a banquet in Dover.  The quilting group includes Terry Cassanelli, chairperson, Maureen Burridge, Toni Bernardon, Catherine Priest, Ginny Pocock, Marion Phillips, Kathy Jimenez and Gail Woodall.