NICHOLS, Iowa — Members of the Muscatine Melon Patchers Quilt Guild are reaching out to victims served by Nichols Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

The Guild recently expanded its outreach program to people who call for fire and medical help by providing quilts to rescuers to hand out at the scene of fires and emergencies.

The Guild also provides Comfort Quilts to such organizations as Muscatine’s Domestic Violence Shelter and Red Cross.

“We are producing more quilts than they need,” Sharyl Grim, a Guild member from Nichols, said of the group’s decision to help the Nichols group. “It’s about helping others.”

She is thankful the quilters, who make as many as 10 quilts a month, will be able to serve people who could use a handmade gift in a time of need.

Grim’s husband Russell is the Nichols fire chief. The Guild plans to branch out to other fire departments, including Muscatine’s.

The fabric, batting, other supplies and cash are donated to the Guild to make the Comfort Quilts program possible. The quilters also spend a lot of time stitching quilts for people who have fallen on troubled times.

About the Guild

The Muscatine Melon Patchers Quilt Guild was organized in 1987 with 32 charter members. The nonprofit organization has grown, maintaining a membership of more than 100 people from across the county and surrounding areas.

The Guild’s mission is to educate members and the community about the artistic, historical and practical attributes of quilts and quilting.

Members also make Christmas stocking for soldiers, pillow cases for cancer patients and provide Comfort Quilts for the Home of the Brave and Quilts of Valor projects.

Visitors and new members are welcome to attend meetings, which are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Mulford Evangelical Free Church, 2400 Hershey Ave., Musca-tine. The December meeting, a potluck, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec 3.

For more information, or to donate, contact Sharyl Grim at 319-723-4518 or sharyl-grim@uiowa.edu.