At Bloom Early Learning & Child Care, we believe that all children deserve a loving and nurturing start in life. That’s why we emphasize community.
The fabric of community is threaded throughout both Bloom Early Learning & Child Care locations—from the interactions of parents and teachers at morning drop-offs and evening pick-ups, to the cheerful hallways decorated with kids’ artwork and amplified by the sound of their young voices, to the well-stocked food shelves that provide security to families who need a boost.
One of the more colorful signs of community, however, is Bloom’s quilt wall. Since the program’s inception in 2000, volunteer quilters have made it their mission to provide a hand-sewn quilt for each child entering the toddler classroom and older children just starting Bloom.
Mickey Ellis remembers initiating the effort to provide quilts: “My thinking was that a handmade quilt was a visible symbol of the love and commitment from Messiah members along with their prayers and financial support.”
To meet the initial goal of providing a quilt for each child, quilters from the congregation (both experienced and novice) gathered for workdays during which they cut, pieced and “sandwiched” quilt tops with batting and backing. “Making a quilt is about sharing your love and prayers with whoever will be using it. The quilting group talked about how much some child would like the colors, the print and/or the idea that it was their quilt,” Mickey recalls.
“Families enjoy picking out the quilts,” says Mary Olsen, Center Director at the Bloom County Road 101 & Hwy 6, which is housed in Messiah Church. “It’s a special time for the staff to share the connection of the quilts and the community that crafts them for each child.”
Sometimes children pick out their own quilts; other times their parents make the selection. Either way, it is a time to build connections and learn more about the child, according to Mary. Overall, the response from Bloom families is that they love the community that makes the quilts to welcome and comfort their children.
As Bloom’s Dunkirk Lane N & Rockford Road location, housed in Plymouth Presbyterian Church (PPC), prepared to open in 2019, quilters in the congregation readily adopted the tradition started at Messiah Church. Quilter Janet Menary is one of five women who donate quilts to welcome the toddlers at the site. She loves working with the bright colors and trying new designs. “Often I see designs or colors and automatically think about the Bloom kids.”
“At Bloom Early Learning, we strive to have a homey atmosphere. Having a handmade quilt for the children to use at naptime helps keep that vibe,” comments Ashley Skogen, Assistant Director at the PPC site. “The parents are as excited as their children about getting a quilt when they move up to the toddler classroom. It helps them feel like part of the program’s tradition, part of community here at Bloom Early Learning,” she observes.
The quilts help build a connection with the children. They bring a sense of comfort and routine: At school when they see their quilts, they know that quiet time is about to start and that they will be safe and comfortable.
Mary notes that the children start to recognize one another’s quilts and will help bring a friend’s quilt to their cubby or help a friend fold it up at the end of naptime. “The quilts truly build community on many levels,” she says.
As the children move through the Bloom classrooms, their quilts are washed weekly, sometimes more often. They become worn from the countless snuggles and comfort they have provided over the years.
“When I think of the quilts, these words come to mind: loved, supported, comforted, connected,” comments Mary. “The fact that volunteers make these beautiful creations without meeting the recipient is amazing. By sharing their talents, these quilters help build community at Bloom Early Learning.
Carol Hazzard is a community volunteer with a special interest in helping young children and families. She is a retired board member of Bloom Early Learning & Child Care and a current member of the Friends of Bloom Committee.
