[293] MTSU hosts National Quilts of Valor Sew Day event Feb. 6

MURFREESBORO — A group of area women (though men are invited) and possibly MTSU students will be gathering at the university next month to do their part to add a bit of comfort to active military personnel and veterans.

For National Quilts of Valor Sew Day, university employee Janice Lewis, a quilter herself, is spearheading a drive to bring 20-30 people to campus to complete 15-20 quilt tops.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at MTSU in Learning Resources Center Rooms 207, 208 and 209. Participants are welcome to attend all or part of the day. To find parking, a searchable campus map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking2015-16.

The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts for their valor and sacrifice.

“Since I already knew about Quilts of Valor and have made a quilt for them in the past, I thought it was a great idea when Quilts of Valor Foundation representative Ginger Fondren mentioned it to me at the Veterans and Military Family Center grand opening in November,” said Lewis, coordinator for Academic Affairs in the Office of the Provost.

“She was the person who presented quilts at the opening, including one to the general,” Lewis added, referring to retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives.

“I knew we had the space needed for this kind of project in our Human Sciences department. That started the ball rolling and it looks like it will be a fun event.”

Huber will join Quilts of Valor officials at the event. Lewis and Human Sciences faculty and the department office are reaching out to students as either sewers or volunteers.

“Students are welcome to come,” Lewis said. “I hope there will be some there.”

The Office of the University Provost, Department of Human Sciences and MTSU Veterans and Military Family Center are sponsoring the project.

For more information, contact Lewis at 615-898-2881 or email Janice.Lewis@mtsu.edu.