Located in Southern Ontario, the Woodstock/Oxford Branch initially began as a Friends group when quilter Dianne Roberts moved to the Woodstock area, bringing with her VQC experience from Sudbury. The group quickly grew and formed its own branch, presently with 40 members of varying quilting experience. Woodstock/Oxford is also supported by a Friends Group in Tillsonburg, consisting of 20 members, and a friends group in Windsor.
The Woodstock branch meets at the Sally Creek Community Centre in Woodstock on the first Wednesday of each month between 10 – 2. Averaging approximately 25 requests per month, the branch has been able to stay on top of requests by producing at least 30 quilts each month. This is our tenth year in serving the Oxford Community. In that time we have delivered over 2000 quilts.
Woodstock/Oxford has graciously received support through the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Toyota Canada, Sifton Family Foundation, quilt guilds, churches, amateur theatres, online auctions and “100 Women Who Care Oxford” to name a few. Assistance is always appreciated in the forms of fabric , flannel and financial donations.
While the initial purpose of volunteering with Victoria’s Quilts Canada is to provide comfort to those battling cancer, one quickly becomes aware of other ‘perks’. This is a great way to form friendships with a wide variety of community members, to develop your quilting skills, not to mention to enjoy a day of laughing, sewing, admiring other’s creations, and feeling a part of a community who cares not only for each other but for complete strangers.
The Woodstock/Oxford Branch and their Friend Groups happily welcome new volunteers.
To see how you too can help, please contact: woodstockoxford@victoriasquiltscanada.com
Located in Ontario, the Woodstock/Oxford Branch started as a Friends Group attached to the Waterloo/Wellington Branch in March 2015, after Dianne Roberts, a quilter from the Sudbury Branch of Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) moved to Woodstock. The group quickly grew and, in mid-August, split off to form its own Branch. We currently have 30 members, some quilting for the first time, others regularly displaying their quilts in local shows. Members live in numerous surrounding towns in Oxford County, including Ingersoll, Innerkip, Tillsonburg, Aylmer, Woodstock and surrounding rural areas, plus one individual in London.
As the membership steadily grew, a few ladies from Tillsonburg organized a Friends Group in Tillsonburg. This group quickly grew to about 15 ladies who meet the third Wednesday of each month.
Our Branch meets at the Sally Creek Recreation Centre in Woodstock on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. During our meetings, kits are cut, quilt tops are sewn, quilts are pinned, bags are prepared, and the best part of all – finished quilts are viewed. Each meeting we are amazed at the finished quilts that demonstrate the creativeness and dedication of all involved. At the end of each session, more kits, and quilt tops, are signed out to be worked on at home.
Branch members
As news of our existence spreads, the requests for quilts steadily increases, and our estimated 6 – 8 quilt requests per month has quickly grown to nearly 15 each month. So far, we are able to keep ahead of the deliveries with the production of 15 – 20 quilts each month.
While the initial purpose of volunteering with Victoria’s Quilts Canada is to provide comfort to those battling cancer, one quickly becomes aware of other ‘perks’. This is a great way to form friendships with a wide variety of community members, to develop your quilting skills, not to mention to enjoy a day of laughing, sewing, admiring other’s creations, and feeling a part of a community who cares not only for each other but for complete strangers. New volunteers are always welcome. Assistance can also be provided through donations of cotton materials, flannel, and funds.
Funding and other activities
Presentations at numerous organizations in the area has assisted in our fundraising, including Lions Clubs, quilt guilds, churches, and our most successful event, “100 Women Who Care Oxford”. We are currently working with a local amateur theatre. Preview production seats are sold to charities at a reduced cost, which are then resold to raise funds.
Woodstock has a Friends Group in Windsor as well as Tillsonburg.