Calling all sewers and quilters

Hey this guy's wife and mom and sisters all say that quilters and sewers are the most generous people on the planet. I think he's right and I am going to pack up an Iraqi Bundle of Love in the next week or two.

Iraqi Bundles of Love is a short-duration project, set to last about six weeks, to surge fabric and sewing materials into the area around which I live in Iraq. It is timed to coincide with both Ramadan, and the departure of my units from Iraq.

It is intended to be a simple project, requiring little effort and little expenditures from those wishing to participate. It is based upon my assessment that sewing fanatics and quilters tend to have stashes that far exceed their actual needs, and that sewing fanatics and quilters are passionate both about sewing / quilting, and about sharing with others.

The general premise is this. I am in Iraq, and I can get mail through the US Postal System. Willing contributors can send to me a flat-rate box of sewing / quilting supplies, all bundled up. I’d open the box, pull out the fully-contained bundle, and hand of off (with others) to our counterparts in the Iraqi Security Forces (Army and others) or the local police, for them to distribute. The stated intent of this operation is to put sewing and quilting supplies into the hands of two types of recipients: locals who desperately need such things, and local sewing co-ops who have received grants or loans (typically to puchase sewing machines, rent space, etc).

Have you got some fabric and sewing notions you can live without? Bet you do, if you think about it. There are very few fabric shops in Iraq and I like the idea of leaving something good behind as our units pull out and giving people a way up to independence.