Quilters support Pay-It-Forward House

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SYCAMORE - For the past 10 years, a group of women have gathered in the Classics Club social room at the Resource Bank and made a queen-size quilt, and when it is completed, they donate it to benefit a local charitable organization in DeKalb County. This year, the Classics Club has chosen the Pay-It-Forward House in Sycamore to receive the proceeds from their efforts. Quilters recently attended a lunch at the house and toured the home-away-from-home for families of patients at Kindred Hospital. The Classics Club quilters had learned about the house more than a year ago through Resource Bank Classics Club Director Sally Scott. The quilting project brings together Classics Club members who might not otherwise meet from Malta, Genoa, DeKalb, Sycamore and Rochelle. Lead quilter Shirley Gylleck gets the project under way each year. After the group members select the pattern and colors, she cuts out the pieces, puts everything needed for one block into a plastic bag and sends the bags out to the other quilters. When Gylleck gets them back, she pieces the top together. The quilting frame is set up in the Classics Club Social room, and the fun begins. Around 9 a.m. every Thursday, members arrive to stitch and chat. It takes six to eight months of weekly sessions to complete a quilt. &#8220Over the past 10 years, our donation of our quilt for a local raffle has raised money for many local groups - Hospice, the animal shelter, Generational Care, Safe Passage, Elderly Care Services, the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center, Hope Haven, Habitat for Humanity and now Pay-It-Forward House. I love to share my love of quilting, and this is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community,” said Gylleck, who recently won a national award for one of her personal quilting projects. &#8220We are thrilled that they chose the Pay-It-Forward House!” said executive director Mary Lou Eubanks. &#8220The quilt is gorgeous and what a wonderful way to ‘pay it forward.' To pay it forward is to do a good deed not to pay someone back, but to help a person in a time of need. Our house provides rest and respite for the families and friends of patients at Kindred Hospital Sycamore. The quilters aren't paying anyone back. The money raised through the sale of raffle tickets will help pay the heating bills this winter to keep our guests warm. The Classics Club quilters will never meet them, but they are helping give them a comfortable home-away-from-home.” Area residents can buy raffle tickets at any of the seven Resource Bank branches or at the Pay-It-Forward House, 719 Somonauk St. Tickets cost $1 each or $5 for six. To see the quilt or for more information about the quilting group or the Classics Club, contact Sally Scott at (815) 748-1614. This year's Classics Pinwheel Quilt will be on display at the different bank locations until the drawing Dec. 9.