Tis' the season of generosity!

Last week, Operation Kid Comfort received two amazing and much-needed donations. As long time members of the Operation Kid Comfort family, we are especially grateful to both Clothworks and Megamat for helping us fulfill our mission To Support the Children of Those Who Support America. We are sure you will be equally impressed with their assistance and products.

Remember that first box of 'colors' you used in kindergarten. Red and orange, green and blue, shiny yellow, purple too . . . Do you long for those bright true colors in your quilts? Well, Kathy York's Urban Landscapes from Clothworks will color your world!

Kathy's colorful fun quilts have thrilled many for some time now. Imagine our joy to hear she has her own line of fabrics loaded with bright colors, fun shapes and patterns! Perfect for our OpKids, we couldn't wait to include these wonderful fabrics in our quilts, and Clothworks sent us six bolts to 'play' with. Our volunteers are working with them now, so check back to see Operation Kid Comfort quilts created from Kathy York's Urban Landscapes.

What is the best mat to cut those fabrics on? A huge 32” X 53” Quilters Rule Megamat, of course!

Back in 2003, Megamat donated Quilters Rule mats and quilting tools to help us launch Operation Kid Comfort. These thick and easy to read mats have stood up to a lot of use from a variety of quilters, novice to experienced. But as you can imagine, with hundreds of volunteers making thousands of quilts, for all these years, we are well past time for replacements. Megamat came to our rescue again with two large mats. If we could get seven years out of our past mats, imagine how long they would last in the home quilting studio?

And this week, we were happily surprised to see Operation Kid Comfort the subject of Jerry’s Artarama blog: The Splatter. Blog writer Theresa Brown of Art Marketing Experts provided a wonderful article about Operation Kid Comfort and its history. Thank you both for highlighting our efforts to your audience.

We thank Clothworks, Megamat and Jerry's Artorama for remembering and honoring our very brave military families. Join us and all the supporters of Operation Kid Comfort in remembering our troops overseas, especially during this holiday season when the separation of parent and child can be especially difficult.

There is no better way to support our troops than to care for their families while they are away.

To donate to Operation Kid Comfort or any of the very special programs of the Armed Services YMCA of Fort Bragg via PayPal, please visit: https://fortliberty.asymca.org/services/operation-kid-comfort/

Ann Flaherty

Founder, Operation Kid Comfort

Thank You HP

It has been seven years since we first launched Operation Kid Comfort at Fort Bragg. An ongoing program of appreciation to our military families, Operation Kid Comfort quilts and pillows continue to be free of charge to America's Littlest Heroes, the children of our deployed service men and women.

Over the years, we've filled thousands of requests for our quilts. With nine photographs printed on fabric incorporated into each quilt, reliable printers are a must for this operation. Additionally, the process is costly.

From day one, Operation Kid Comfort has received the support of Hewlett-Packard Company. Last week, our friends at HP delivered a new HP Photosmart e-All in one Series D110 printer along with replacement ink cartridges to our workshop. In a word --- phenomenal!

Just right for the desktop, our volunteers find this printer the perfect tool to scan and print images for Operation Kid Comfort quilts and pillows. Fabric sheets print with ease and clarity.

All of us at Operation Kid Comfort and the Armed Services YMCA of Fort Bragg are grateful for the continuous support of HP. As we strive to Serve the Children of Those Who Serve America, and take comfort in knowing we can count on the many volunteers, contributors and corporations such as HP to assist us in that mission.

On behalf of the thousands of children we serve: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Sincerely,

Ann Flaherty

Founder, Operation Kid Comfort

We Couldn't Do It Without You!

Operation Kid Comfort is grateful to the many volunteers and supporters who we rely on to meet the needs of thousands of children. Industry donations are especially important to that success. Highlighted here are two recent donations from Simplicity and Aurifil that our volunteers are raving about.

Simplicity donated not one, but TWO Deluxe Rotary Cutter and Embossing Machines to assist us in cutting the many strips necessary for Operation Kid Comfort Quilts and Pillows. Very easy to use and adjustable to the size needed, in our case 4 1/2”, our volunteers can zip through this task without wearing out shoulders, elbows and wrists. I know this machine will make a big difference for me and my carpal tunnel.

Another great company that is creating smiles for our volunteers and 'OpKids' is Aurifil thread company. Aurifil's donation of assorted threads are enhancing Operation Kid Comfort quilts and pillows with bright and beautiful colors. Our volunteers love the ease of these threads in any machine. The variegated add a bit of cheer to our quilts.

All of us at the Operation Kid Comfort welcome Simplicity and Aurifil to our family. We ask you to remember their commitment to America's Littlest Heroes, the children of our deployed service men and women, when making your quilting purchases.

Thank you all who donate to Operation Kid Comfort. We couldn't do it without you! If you haven't donated in the past, please consider becoming part of Operation Kid Comfort's mission to Serve the Children of Those Who Serve America by donating materials, cash and time.

With heart felt appreciation,

Ann Flaherty

Founder, Operation Kid Comfort

Obama Visits Operation Kid Comfort

Thank you Mr. President!

On behalf of the hundreds of volunteers who make Operation Kid Comfort a success, we appreciate your visit to the ASYMCA Washington, D.C. event in honor of the September 11^th National Day of Service.

Across the country, Operation Kid Comfort volunteers create individual photo-transfer quilts and pillows for America's Littlest Heroes, the children of our deployed service men and women. Founded on Make A Difference Day, 2003, more than 7,000 children have been recipients of these very special gifts. And...wow...have we made a difference!

Our 'OpKids' all delight in having a tangible, huggable and washable set of photos to curl up with while their parents are overseas. Our parents are grateful that they will not be forgotten during long deployments. And our volunteers relish the opportunity to support our troops in such a personal and meaningful way.

Thank you President Obama for recognizing this very special program. The many people of Operation Kid Comfort appreciate your visit.

Sincerely,

Ann Flaherty

Founder, Operation Kid Comfort

Comfort! Create! Unite!

Operation Kid Comfort is a FREE program of the Armed Services YMCA that provides photo-transfer quilts and pillows to children of our deployed service men and women. We rely on our supporters and volunteers for continued success. Please contact us at operationkidcomfort@gmail.com for further information.

Please DONATE to help with Operation Kid Comfort.

Photos are courtesy of Greater DC Cares