For longtime Bellmore resident Linda Huncharosf, quilting is much more than just a hobby — it’s a way to bring purpose, love and a little magic into the lives of children who might not otherwise receive a meaningful holiday gift.
Through the Long Island Quilters’ Society, Huncharosf recently led a holiday project to create handmade stuffed animals for Toys for Tots. Over a three-day span, at the Merrick Golf Course, volunteers stitched together nearly 125 animals, including elephants, Scottie dogs and teddy bears.
“This year, I was nominated to be the charity chairperson,” Huncharosf, who’s lived in Bellmore for 45 years, said. “I felt it was necessary to do something more meaningful for Toys for Tots. In the past, people would bring in a random gift from the Dollar Tree or Five Below. I wanted the gifts to have love attached to them.”
Huncharosf said many members of the quilters’ society, most of whom are older, often struggle with a sense of purpose once their children and grandchildren are grown.
“We realized we still have something to give,” she said. “Making these stuffed animals is our way to connect, create and give back.”
A lifelong quilter, Huncharosf has previously donated pillowcases, quilts and other handmade items to charities supporting older adults, the homeless and local fire departments. This year’s project, however, marked her first time creating stuffed animals — a challenge, she said, she embraced with enthusiasm.
The quilters’ society, a community of 140 members that meets monthly at the Freeport Recreation Center, is committed to fostering quilting through education, service and art.
“The Long Island Quilters’ Society is proud to support Toys for Tots during the holiday season,” Lisa Morrow, the society’s co-president, told the Herald. “As quilters, we believe handmade items carry comfort, care and connection, and with every stitch, our members are thinking about the person who will eventually receive it. It means a great deal to us to know our work can help bring joy to children in our community.”
Morrow said giving back is a major part of the society’s identity, noting that the Toys for Tots’ efforts reflect the generosity and heart of the society’s members.
Beyond Toys for Tots, Huncharosf teased several upcoming initiatives, including creating more than 50 lap quilts for a new veterans’ facility, making pillows and caps for women undergoing cancer treatment, and supporting homeless shelters and the Ronald McDonald House.
Huncharosf and the other quilters donated the stuffed animals to Toys for Tots during the society’s annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 16.
“Purpose is the magical word,” Huncharosf said. “This group gives me purpose, and I hope these gifts give a little bit of love and hope to the children who receive them.”
Anyone interested in joining the Long Island Quilters’ Society or learning more about its charitable work may visit its Facebook page, which contains information about upcoming meetings and volunteer opportunities.
