A little love in the form of homemade quilts is making the homes of multiple people in the Smoky River region a little cozier this winter.
Smoky River Family and Community Support Services director Crystal Tremblay says a group of local women donate homemade quilts to their Christmas Voucher Program each year, making the program even more special for recipients.
“This year Carol Parker, Marie Dubois, Rosa Galligan, Hugette Turcotte, Paulette Laflamme, Charlotte Kealy, Irene Lemire, and Theresa St. Germaine made 20 beautiful quilts that will be handed out to voucher recipients,” says Tremblay.
“I want to send a huge thank you to the Jean-Côtè Quilting Club, they spend many hours producing beautiful quilts each year for our Christmas Voucher Program.”
Tremblay says the voucher program normally helps between 50-70 families each year, and any donations are truly appreciated to help facilitate the program.
She adds the 2025 Christmas Voucher Program helped 54 families last December and 20 of them received the beautiful quilts as an addition to their items.
“The quilts are loved and cherished by the recipients every year,” exclaims Tremblay.
“One recipient this year received one that had butterflies on it. She stated she had lost many family members, and the butterflies symbolize that she is not alone.”
Tremblay says she would also like to send a huge thank you to everyone involved in quilting every year.
“These quilters invest a great deal of time and love into each of their beautiful creations, and the recipients can sense that,” says Tremblay.
“Many people request to receive a gift of warmth that these blankets provide.”
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter