SPRING VALLEY – Apple County Farm received a donated quilt recently that is to be raffled Saturday, Oct. 31 with funds benefiting the Circle of Victory.
“It’s a gorgeous quilt,” Marcie Hagler of Apple County Farm said. “Ann Martin donated it to us out of the blue. She came in and said she knew we were donating a portion of our maze proceeds to the benefit of cancer through the Circle of Victory, and she wanted to offer this quilt she made to have donations raised also go back to the Circle of Victory. She and her sister made the quilt … and all that she asked in exchange for donating the quilt was to let her know how much we raised.”
Martin, who has been a quilter since 1992 but has sewed for 50 years, said although neither she nor any of her family members have been impacted by breast cancer, she is thrilled to help with the cause. In addition to donating a quilt to Apple Country Farm for the Circle of Victory, she donated another to the Spring Valley Library to assist with its funding.
Apple Country Farm is donating to the Greene Medical Foundation Circle of Victory for the second time this year. Hagler just surpassed her fourth year of beating breast cancer.
“I had a lot of people who were very supportive and it’s incredible – the support you receive from people when something like that strikes you,” she said. “It’s close to my heart and we’re doing whatever we can to help those who follow.”
Circle of Victory serves as a means of financial assistance to cancer patients. Apple Country Farm donated $3,500 to the Circle of Victory last year, and they hope to match or surpass that amount this year. Proceeds raised from Apple Country Farm’s maze will additionally go toward Circle of Victory.
“I was very, very taken back and surprised to have such a generous donation come unexpectedly,” Hagler said. “It was very heartwarming and unexpected and a surprise that someone would be that generous in helping us raise the funds.”
The quilt measures 68 inches by 79 inches, and is currently displayed in the farmers market. Tickets can be purchased for $1 for one ticket, or $5 for six tickets. It will be raffled Saturday, Oct. 31.
Martin feels that it is a wonderful thing, and hopes to raise a lot of money. She hosts a quilters circle 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the School House Apartments in Spring Valley in the multi-purpose room. Individuals of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate and learn. She formerly worked at the Spring Valley Senior Center, but feels that since offering the quilting group outside of the senior center she is able to contribute more to the community and reach quilters of all ages.
“It’s another piece to what we’re trying to do and generate as much interest to the corn maze and quilt piece,” Hagler said. “The more interest we have, the larger contribution we can make back to the Circle of Victory – that’s the main driving point.”
