The Emerald Valley Quilters (EVQ) Community Service Committee coordinates the making and donating of quilts and teddy bears for children in need to various agencies and organizations in Lane County which work with “at risk” children and adults.  In 2025, we delivered 123 quilts and 600 teddy bears to Bags of Love, 62 quilts to Hope & Safety Alliance (formerly Women's Space) and 35 teddy bears to Family & Children's Health.  We provide kits for quilts and teddy bears and accept donations of competed quilt tops and quilts, teddy bears, fabric and poly fil stuffing at Guild meetings. You can even win a prize for your donations!

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For years, EVQ has partnered with Cascade Manor to sew 10 inch teddy bears.  Almost 11,000 bears (Yes, 11,000!) have been completed in that time.  EVQ members are encouraged to participate by coming to our “Teddy Bear Picnic” held the 4th Saturday of each month from 10:00 am- Noon at Cascade Manor, 65 West 30th Avenue, Eugene (near Market of Choice on South Willamette).  Refreshments are graciously served by Cascade Manor.  Thanks always for your contribution of time and materials.  EVQ members can also pick up kits for bears that are ready to sew together at monthly Guild meetings.  Instructions are included.

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Organizations to which EVQ donates quilts, teddy bears and totes:

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Bags of Love:  provides necessities and comfort items to children who are in crisis due to neglect, abuse, poverty or homelessness; a quilt & stuffed animal goes in each bag.  

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Kids First:  provides services to the Lane County Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Intervention Team (MDT) members. Those services include interviews with child abuse victims and support at court hearings. EVQ teddy bears are often given to the abuse victims to help them cope with their situation.  

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How you can contribute to the EVQ Community Service efforts:

• Make comfort quilts according the EVQ guidelines which are available on this website or you can pick up a guide sheet at Guild meetings. Several copyright free patterns are also available through this website or at Guild meetings.  The most requested size is about 50” x 60”.

• Pick up a Community Service Quilt Kit at guild meetings; these kits contain a simple pattern, material already cut into strips and/or pieces for blocks, borders and binding. Batting is also available.

• As we often get quilt tops not yet quilted, we appreciate offers to quilt these tops by longarm or domestic machine. Contact any Community Service committee member or stop by our table at Guild meetings.

• Pick up kits for teddy bears to be partially sewn before stuffing.

• Attend a Teddy Bear Picnic on a Saturday morning to create finished teddy bears.

• Donate good quality all cotton fabric for quilts and teddy bears; bright colors and kid prints are especially welcome.  We are also requesting male oriented and gender neutral fabrics.

• Donate Poly-Fil brand stuffing for teddy bears. We cannot use batting scraps for stuffing bears.

• Participate in the February Community Service Night Guild meeting where we make teddy bears and bind quilts.

• Assist with the Build-a-Block efforts at the EVQ biennial quilt show; help is always needed with preparation, staffing the booth and completion of blocks and quilts afterwards.