MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA—Coffee, laughter, fabric, sewing machines and needles can be found with dedicated quilters at Minot Vincent United Methodist Church in Minot, North Dakota every Tuesday. Quilters in the Minot area have been stitching up love for the neighbors in the community for decades.

“Our name is Sowers of Love –s-o-w-e-r-s.  Because we sew, s-e-w but our purpose is to bring love to the people that need to be loved,” said Linda Wade, one of the quilters.

The group has a record of the quilts they have made since 2008. Sowers of Love have made over 400 quilts for veterans, foster kids, victims of domestic violence, graduations, baptisms and those suffering from cancer.  In addition, they make pillowcases and school bags.  Everything they sew they give away.

“We decided we needed to keep track a little bit of what we do.  So our first year we recorded was 2008, said Pat McDaniel one of the quilters. "We started writing what we do quilts for and where they go.”

“We make quilts for veterans at the VA Hospital in Fargo and deliver them.  This will be our third group of quilts we have taken down to them,” said quilter Sally Verstraete.

The supplies are funded through donations and a cookbook.  We Sew But Can Cook Too is full of recipes from the quilters, members at Minot Vincent and other United Methodists.  The cookbook is sold at events in the church and community.

Members of the Sowers of Love are: Carolyn Andrews, Jo Dee Barnard, Gerry Burns, Vicky Campbell, Norma Chrest, Lois Culver, Hether Ellis, Shirley Gorthy, Johnnie Gorthy, Deb Hanson, Luther Heaton, Sharon Klusman, Carol Kraft, Pat McDaniel, Irene Ost, Phyllis Richardson, Jackie Slagle, Cynthia Thomson, Sally Verstraete and Linda Wade.

Throughout the Dakotas Conference churches have quilting groups that stitch up lots of love.  Each fall a quilt auction is held at the Dakota Marketplace raising funds for hungry projects throughout the Conference.   

Sowers of Love from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.