Group donates more than 30 hand-made pieces to F.I.S.H.
About two dozen women got together at the Matlacha Community Center last week to present F.I.S.H. (Fellow Islanders Sending Help) with more than 30 hand-made quilts. The quilts will be given to mothers with newborn babies and seniors.
Quilts-R-Us began 28 years ago in 1988 and has been donating quilts for over 20 years.
“There are still a few of us original members left,” Dolores Ambrose said. “The ladies start making quilts in January of every year. Then at this time, just before Christmas, we donate them to F.I.S.H. The quilts are given to families in need as part of their Basket Brigade. Basket Brigade provides assistance for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.”
Debbie Webster has been a member of Quilts R Us for 4 or 5 years.
“Jennifer Fox introduced me to Quilts R Us,” Webster said. “It’s just part of what this group does – we make quilts and donate them as ‘charity quilts’ to F.I.S.H. We like the idea that these quilts stay local helping people on Pine Island and Matlacha. F.I.S.H. helps people with rent, mortgage, gas and electric, with their car and whatever is needed.”
F.I.S.H. is a completely volunteer organization where all of its activities initiated from the homes of volunteers. There is no central office or paid staff and the majority of funds come from Pine Island and Matlacha.
There is never a charge for any F.I.S.H. service, and services are provided regardless of the economic status of clients, except for financial assistance.
F.I.S.H. provides non-emergency transportation: to medical facilities, grocery store, pharmacy, bank, etc., to individuals with no other access to transportation; mobility equipment to lend: wheelchairs, walkers, etc.; special needs: emergency assistance for rent, utilities, medical, etc.; respite: relief to non-paid, primary caregivers for approximately 4 hours, once a week; in-touch: contact with homebound individuals either by phone or home visits; and as lead agency in the Pine Island “Basket Brigade” Program.