Women of Rollins donate quilts to comfort kids with cancer
The Women of Rollins met June 9 for their annual luncheon at the Glacier Camp on Flathead Lake. On display were the 20 quilts made by members for the Children’s Oncology Department at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. This is the fourth year the club has made quilts for children with cancer. (Provided photo)
Formed during the World War II era, the Women of Rollins club in Northwest Montana is nearing 80 years of serving various people and organizations across the region.
The group of women from several communities along the west shore of Flathead Lake support organizations such as the West Shore Food Bank, area fire departments, group homes in Kalispell and many other various charities. They volunteer for highway cleanup, award two college scholarships every year and are always around when a community member just needs a helping hand.
Four years ago the club also took on an especially heartwarming project when they began making quilts for pediatric oncology patients at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. This year the group made 20 quilts they displayed at their annual luncheon held at Glacier Camp last month.
The women gather together every second Tuesday each month to meet and socialize; additionally, members assemble more frequently on a weekly basis to quilt. Many members are already naturally adept at quilting, including Linda Anderson, past president and current secretary, who is instrumental in organizing the quilting projects.
Although some club members quilt often, others are not naturally skilled sewers. However, every quilt is a group effort, with members splitting up duties including ironing, arranging squares and blocks and sewing. The result is the women’s club gifting upward of 20 to 30 quilts to children fighting cancer every year.
“You go in [to the oncology unit] and there’s just babies in little strollers with cancer…” Anderson said. “You don’t expect that.”
Anderson explained her own husband has cancer and several other members are dealing with family fighting the disease as well. That connection serves as inspiration to get involved making the oncology quilts. She also noted that their meeting place is the historic Rollins School House and they keep the spirit of little ones close to heart.
“Well, number one it’s a school house, so we think of children a lot and cancer is so prevalent now,” Anderson expressed.
She believes the quilts offer the kids comfort and a small sense of security while facing such enormous challenges. The women make all sizes of quilts for babies up through 18-year-olds, and the quilt is something the children and families can keep forever.
In addition to the oncology quilts, the Women of Rollins also make an annual raffle quilt that serves as a fundraiser for the club. This year’s quilt, called “Vintage Floral,” will be displayed at various locations throughout west shore communities in order to promote raffle ticket sales. The winner is announced in September at the Dayton Days and proceeds are used to support local charities and fund scholarships for local students.
The money from the quilt raffle and the annual Rollins School House Sale, a large yard sale to be held July 25, help support the upkeep of the historic building. The Women of Rollins club is now the sole source of support and maintenance for the school building, which last had students in 1979.
The club is always open and looking for people willing to help support the various causes, including preserving the school house.
Anderson, with a couple of other club members, will take the 20 quilts up to Kalispell Regional Medical Center in the coming weeks as they complete another rewarding year of quilt donations.
Reporter Whitney England may be reached at 758-4419 or wengland@dailyinterlake.com