ABOVE: Linda Maday stands before a few patriotic quilts that will be given away to veterans in Martin County through her new non-profit, South Central MN Quilts for Veterans. Some of the quilts are on display now at the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT– A new non-profit, South Central Minnesota Quilt for Veterans, has a goal of gifting a quilt to every one of the 1,200 veterans in Martin County. The non-profit was started by Fairmont resident, Linda Maday.

A life-long seamstress, Maday was the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher at Fairmont High School for 35 years. Upon retiring in 2008, she took up quilting and joined the Prairie Star Quilt Guild.

“Quilting is another whole world of sewing. It’s not like tailoring and unit construction that I was teaching,” Maday said.

In the past, the Prairie Star Quilt Guild has gifted quilts to veterans during service projects. Maday, who considers herself patriotic, said she wanted to ensure that every veteran could get a quilt.

“I thought it was time for me to jump into a non-profit. The funding is easier if you’re a non-profit, rather than a private community group. Then I can write grants and get funding for the 1,200 veterans in our community,” Maday said.

She has partnered with American Legion Post 36 in Fairmont to help keep track of all of the veterans and ensure they all get a quilt.

Maday received a letter back in March, giving her the okay to form the 501(c)(3) non-profit. However, she said she just recently went public with the project, first at St. John Vianney’s annual Fall Festival on Sept. 24 and now with a show at the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont where 26 quilts made for veterans are on display.

“It’s our big outing to let the community know that we’re here and this is what we’re doing,” Maday said.

The quilts have been made in part by members of Common Threads, a quilting group at Grace Lutheran Church, and by Prairie Star Quilt Guild members.

In May, for the Cardinal Community Day of Service, students in Wendi Tonder’s textile class at Fairmont High School worked on creating several blocks which were made into quilts for the project.

“She had a tub of fabric that her daughter left behind from a scouting project of making quilts for veterans. Some volunteers came in and about 20 students worked on sewing quilt tops for veterans with all of the fabric in the tubs,” Maday said.

Over the summer those were pierced together and made into quilts which will be given away through the non-profit.

With the help of funding from the American Legion and Martin County Area Foundation, quilting kits have also been made to hand out to people in the community.

“They’re for people who don’t belong to quilting groups, but would like to donate their time and make a quilt,” Maday explained.

So far, a dozen kits have been handed out. The kit consists of a patriotic bag which carries the batting and pattern for a three yard quilt. All of the fabric is cut and marked.

“We’re hoping that sewers that take it can use what they have available and come up with a backing and maybe top stitch it themselves,” Maday said.

She’s amazed at how much has happened surrounding the non-profit in just several shorts months.

“When I got the okay in March I never dreamt of all of the things that have happened down the line in this journey with working with the students and we added a second day of Common Threads and people are giving donations in between the grants which is very nice,” Maday said.

While she’s starting out with goal of gifting quilts to all of the veterans in Martin County, Maday doesn’t necessarily want to stop there. The reason the non-profit includes South Central MN in its name is because she has plans to branch out and give quilts to veterans in Watonwan County as well.

“Part of our Prairie Star Quilt Guild group has always traveled from St. James so we have ladies from Watonwan County so I thought we could spread out there, and maybe to Jackson County,” Maday said.

As 1,200 quilts need to be made, those involved with the non-profit can use all of the help they can get. Those interested in either donating funds or receiving a kit can contact Maday at scmnquiltsforvets23@gmail.com.

“I don’t want to wear out my crew that is working. Any Martin County residents that would like to sew over the winter can contact me and we can set them up with a kit,” Maday said.

The majority of the patriotic quilts are 45′ by 60′, as they’re intended to be a lap quilt or couch quilt and more of a comfort blanket for lounging rather than bedding, though some veterans may prefer to display it as a wall hanging.

Maday expressed appreciation for those who have dedicated their time to creating quilts for this cause.

“A majority of the quilters have quilted and gifted family and friends and still love to do it. This is another outlet or way for them to enjoy their sewing and give it to somebody with a purpose,” Maday said.

At 2 p.m. on Oct. 3, there will be meet and greet at the Red Rock Center for the Arts. Members of Common Threads will be on site and refreshments will be available. Maday said they welcome the public to attend, ask questions and enjoy the quilts.