Katrina quilt on display at Residence Life office

4:53 p.m., Dec. 6, 2005--“We hope that this quilt will serve as a reminder that we, alone, are a single square, but when united with others can provide warmth and light to a sometimes stormy world,” UD students have written in a letter to Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, whose state suffered enormously from Hurricane Katrina.

The letter will accompany a handmade patchwork quilt, with each patch bearing a message to the victims of Katrina that will be sent to Mississippi on behalf of the UD community.

The quilt was the idea of students and staff in the Gilbert and Harrington residence hall complexes who participated in the Giving on the Green fund-raiser in September for the survivors of Katrina. They sold quilt squares for $2 each on which the buyer could write a message to Katrina’s victims. They sold 97 squares, and Iveta Ziegelbauer, a Residence Life complex coordinator, sewed the patches together.

The quilt will be on display in the Residence Life office, 5 Courtney St., until Wednesday, Dec. 7, when it will be mailed to Gov. Barbour.

Among the messages are “Never lose hope,” “Our hearts go out to you” and “May your roots always remain close to your hearts.”

Stitched to the back of the quilt is this inscription:
“We, the students of the University of Delaware, would like to present, to the victims of the state of Mississippi, this homemade quilt as a token of our compassion. The quilt squares were made intentionally green to represent the hope and growth that are essential to the rebuilding of the communities that were so deeply impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The heart-shaped hurricane centerpiece represents our love and support for these individuals and families who have lost so much. We hope that this quilt will bring warmth to your hearts and lives. It has been a life-changing experience to witness your strength and courage as you move forward towards a brighter tomorrow.”

Ziegelbauer said all 40 staff members contributed to the making of the quilt. They chose the fabric, cut the squares, collected the squares from students, designed the center graphic, wrote the letter to the governor and organized the fundraiser. In addition, educational bulletin boards were displayed throughout the complex telling of Katrina victims’ needs and ways to contribute.

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson

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