Rocklin, CA— In 4 hours the annual Relief Society Humanitarian Open House turned out 111 quilts and blankets, joining 100 more done previously this year. The annual event, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has always drawn an eager crowd of quilters, but this year the haunting images of destruction in Haiti gave it a very real sense of urgency. The largest turn-out yet at 300+ women, there were mothers and grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters, young and old alike. “Most of the blankets and quilts will be in the arms of Haitian earthquake victims soon,” said Sherie Abel, event organizer. “The Sacramento chapter of Project Linus plans to ship our blankets to Haiti on February 26th.”

Along with tying the quilts, the Relief Society gathered donated essentials for hygiene kits that will be assembled later this week. “Hygiene kits include personal essentials that are often left behind when disaster victims evacuate,” said Michelle Fluckiger, Rocklin Stake Relief Society President. “The list of items is very specific; we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Our kits contain combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap and hand towels.”

“The hygiene kits will join with thousands of others made by Relief Society groups elsewhere”, said Abel. “What doesn’t get used for this disaster will store easily and can be pre-positioned in key locations for quick distribution to disaster victims when the need arises.”

The Relief Society, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is one of the world’s oldest and largest women’s organizations, with a membership of over 5 million in 170 countries. (www.lds.org) Project Linus (www.projectlinus.org) is a multi-chapter nation-wide organization that provides handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need worldwide.