Quilter's Trunk Helping You Help Our Heroes: Bev Biz Beat

CHICAGO — The Quilter's Trunk, a Beverly neighborhood and nationally recognized quilting store, may not be open until the state of Illinois' "stay-at-home" order has been lifted, but is doing more than its part in serving both the neighborhood and the healthcare workers and first responders on the front lines during the coronavirus crisis.

Owner Katie Nathwandi and Co-founder Lisa Wilberding have been producing fabric left and right, first as part of an effort they had on their own to provide masks for police officers and firefighters and then to help those who live in the community.

"We have been rallying our sewing troops," Wilberding said. "We made enough fabric for 800 masks, have committed for 800 more and the alderman's office is kicking in even more."

Their "sewing community," the regulars at The Quilter's Trunk, has been instrumental in putting together additional masks and adding to the effort, Wilberding and Nathwandi said.

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Once The Quilter's Trunk made enough fabric for 500 masks to give away to the community, Nathwandi said it took less than 24 hours for them all to be gone from the tin they left for the public at the front of their Western Avenue store.

"We were inundated with requests for masks... but we did not want to sell them," Wilberding said. "We decided to become a good community partner, support the heard and make some fabric available for people for a limited time."

So that offer has expired, but the movement to create as many masks as possible to meet the unlimited demand for hospital workers, police officers and firefighters continues.

There are now two tubs outside the store, one filled with plastic bags that in each have enough fabric to make eight masks. Those who know how to sew are asked to take only enough plastic bags to account for the number of masks they can commit to making. Then, when the masks are finished they are to return them to the other tub that sits in front of the store.

Two patters, as well as cutting layout diagrams, can be found on the store's website.

The selflessness at The Quilter's Trunk was noticed by their neighbor one door to the south: 19th Ward Alderman Matt O'Shea's Office. To further the effort, The Quilter's Trunk owners said O'Shea has purchased material for more than 2,000 masks from them, to be donated to first responders and hospital workers.

"It is wonderful," Wilberding said. "As a local investment they are not only helping us all weather this storm, but they are making sure we are here to stay for when the storm passes."

The alderman's office contribution will also help pay the six employees of The Quilter's Trunk while they are closed due to the crisis, Wilberding said.

"We are really appreciative of our entire community, and happy to be able to do our part of keeping us all safe."