Marie Schriever's husband, John, had to be at Geisinger's for an early procedure. As president of the Pocono Chapter of Quilts for Kids, she figured she'd save gas and deliver quilts to the Janet Weis Children's Unit while they were there. She had 34 quilts for them. After her husband was done, she used a large wheelchair to take all of the quilts up to the unit.

When she got on the elevator, a young woman was there and saw the quilts. She asked Schriever if she made them. She said yes, with a lot of her friends from the Pocono Chapter of Quilts for Kids.The woman got tears in her eyes and looked at Marie and said, "Thank you. My son received one last year and it meant everything to him and to me. He passed away shortly after."Schriever expressed her condolences and hugged the woman."I left the elevator with tears and realized how blessed we all are to share our talents with so many people. This is why we do what we do," Schriever said.And what the volunteers of Quilts for Kids do is transform fabrics into patchwork quilts that comfort children in need who are sick. They also deliver the quilts to nursing homes, cancer centers and the VA hospital in Wilkes-Barre and for people with hardships.Pocono Chapter evolvesSchriever got involved when she and her husband moved to Albrightsville over seven years ago."I was looking for something to do. I sew and signed up for a quilting class at Country Quiltiere. I met Sandy Claypool there and she told me about Quilts for Kids. We started the Pocono Chapter with two other ladies," Schriever said.One year later, Ann Lambert, also from Albrightsville, an avid quilter and teacher at the Quilted Crow, saw a newspaper article about the Quilts for Kids Sew-a-Thons, attended one and was hooked. Now she and Schriever are the driving forces behind the Pocono Chapter, which has donated 2,326 quilts in its seven years.They made 466 in 2014. They have 35 volunteers from all over the local area and meet about seven times a year at the Wilson Fischer Post 413 in Pocono Lake.The chapter holds a quilt raffle (queen size) and luncheon the second Saturday in September at the Boulder View Tavern in Lake Harmony to raise funds to buy material and batting.The quilts are made in three sizes: For babies, 36-by-36 inches; toddlers, 36-by-42 inches; teens/adults, 42-by-42 inches.Marie and Ann put all the quilt kits together, which contain 6 1/2-inch blocks and the batting.There is no pressure in getting the quilts done."You can take a kit home and return it three years later. We have volunteers who take the kits with them to Florida and California for the winter and then bring them in when they return home," Schriever said.Sew-a-ThonsWhen the chapter holds a Sew-a-Thon, they always lay out the finished quilts they receive during the all-day event. By the end of the day they usually have more than 20 and people can come at any time and pick up kits. Some blocks are laid out and people can pick their own to design their own quilt instead of those already provided in the kits.Some people come with their sewing machines and sew, others who can't sew lay out the blocks, iron and make up the kits.If you would like to donate to the Pocono Chapter of Quilts for Kids, they would appreciate gift cards for Joann's, where they buy the 100 percent cotton material (they spend no more than $3 a yard), batting or they will accept cash to purchase the material.Schriever and Lambert recently shopped at JoAnn's with coupons and sales and bought 110 yards of fabric for $247."That was a savings of $379. Do we know how to shop or what?" laughed Schriever.Members of the Western Pocono Women's Club makes quilts for the Pocono chapter. They meet five times a year at Pat Mackes' home, bringing their sewing machines, scissors, needles, thread and commitment.Who benefitsWhen Schriever and Lambert make deliveries, they sometimes get to see and hear about what the quilts mean to people who receive them."When we went to make a delivery at Miner's Hospital the second time, we saw two ladies in wheelchairs with our quilts over their legs. It makes us feel good to know they are appreciated," says Schriever."I attended a prayer group and a mother said her 8-year-old daughter who has a heart problem has one of our quilts and it offers her comfort. It's stories like this that make us want to keep making more quilts," says Lambert."It's just a nice thing. It's a win-win situation. The people who are making the quilts enjoy making them and feel good that they are doing something for others. Those who receive them are thrilled and appreciate them," Schriever said.The chapter is looking for new places to donate quilts and tries to keep them in Monroe and Carbon counties.Quilts for Kids' busy hands and hearts offer comfort and the message that someone cares.If interested in joining the Pocono chapter (no dues, no fees) or if you know of some charity to donate quilts to, contact Schriever at 570-722-9797 or email her at

smitty9union@yahoo.com.