Helping orphans

By Tania Martin
The Monbulk woman is leading a 20-strong army of women to make quilts for children in India.
She joined the mission, Quilts for Orphans, more than two years ago after hearing of the plight of the children.
Mrs Peterson said being able to give the orphans something as simple as a quilt was an amazing feeling.
She said many children in Australia took such gestures for granted.
“In India they don’t have any blankets and sleep on the floor,” Mrs Peterson.
Mrs Peterson said there were more than 25 orphanages that the mission provided quilts to.
In each orphanage more than 60 children are in need of a blanket.
“They don’t sleep on beds but on the floor with a mat … but it’s still clean and tidy,” Mrs Peterson said.
Helping the less fortunate is not new for Mrs Peterson.
She has spent years working with the missions department at the Mt Evelyn Careforce Church.
“I was working making beanies and scarves for homeless people in Russia … we made more than 3000,” she said.
“But I wanted to do something different and decided to look into other missions.”
Mrs Peterson now aims to make more than 2000 quilts for the children.
So far the group which is a part of the Christian Outreach Ministries has sent more than 278 quilts to the orphanages.
Ms Peterson is calling for anyone who wants to help these children to give quilting a go.
She is also raising cash to build a quilt-making shed in her backyard in Macclesfield Road, Monbulk.
For months, Mrs Peterson’s living room and verandah have been overrun on the days the group gets together.
They have also been selling a selection of wedding dresses at half-price to help raise the cash needed for the shed.
When the Monbulk-based bridal shop, Tatters closed more than 12 months ago, the owner donated the dresses to the group.
All the funds raised from the sale of the dresses have gone towards helping to cover the cost of the shed.
The American-barn style structure cost more than $10,000, but the group still needs more help.
They need to raise at least another $8,000 towards the erection of the shed.
“We need people with plumbing and electrical expertise to help us out,” Mrs Peterson said.
She said anyone wanting to help with the shed or with making the quilts could contact her on 9756 7950.
“We need all the help we can get,” Mrs Peterson said.