Become a Volunteer

One of our most popular activities is making quilts, blankets and quillows (a quilt that is folded into a pocket attached to the back of a quilt) for wounded military members, families of local deceased military members, and local veterans. Our member who organized this project, and still leads it, is Joann Schmidt.

When her son joined the Navy in 2004, Joann read an article in the Leatherneck magazine about a group who made Comfort Quilts. She joined the group and worked with them until the founder of Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley, Paula Zwillinger, lost her son in Iraq. Joann and Paula went to area businesses asking for donations to make quilts for local heroes who were hospitalized. Joann’s son was stationed in MD at the time so he delivered quilts to Bethesda and Walter Reed Hospitals. Joann contacted Soldiers Angels and Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley started sending quillows to the hospital in Landsthul Germany.

During the annual Wreaths Across America event, Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley members brought quillows to Arlington National Cemetery. They presented quillows to some of the parents of the heroes of Extortion 17.

At first, the quillows were made in Joann’s house. Eventually, she was invited to work out of a local Assisted Living Center. Some of the ladies residing there were able to help with the quillows. Joann and the quilters are now grateful to be working in a building in Schlathaus Park, part of the Town of Wappinger Recreation Center. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, CAR (Children of the American Revolution), members from local churches and stores have all helped to make our quillows. They designed and signed the squares they made that were sewn into quillows. Anyone may volunteer to help and no sewing skills are needed.