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In the weeks leading up to Memorial Day, Mark Shook got his customers thinking about how they could give back to veterans. Shook, manager at Waters True Value in Emporia, Kansas, joined forces with two other businesses in town to sponsor the local Quilts of Gratitude fundraiser.
Quilts of Gratitude was started by members of the local quilters guild to make quilts that are donated to veterans.
To help pay for the expenses involved in making the donated quilts, members of the organization made a “Thank You Troops” quilt, which was raffled off in May.
Tickets were available at any of the three sponsoring businesses, which included Waters True Value, the local radio station and a local restaurant. Each business had a chance to display the quilt. It hung near the paint department at Waters True Value for about six weeks.
The fundraiser has been a good way for Shook and his staff to be connected with a community project, in addition to having a nice piece of handiwork to show off in the store.
“We’ve always been supportive of the community,” he says. “The quilt is a nice display, but it also offers an opportunity to those who are interested in donating to veterans.”
