Previous Community Outreach Projects
Discover some of the previous community outreach projects organized by PVQA.
STEM Quilt Project
On Sunday, July 13th, 80 young women entering 8th grade arrived on the UCSC campus for a summer camp which just might change their lives. The 2025 Tech Trek Camp Carson (sponsored by the American Association of University Women--AAUW) hosted students from schools in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. The 6-day camp encouraged young women to continue their interest in the STEM subjects—Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, with fun lessons, experiments, field trips, and the companionship of like-minded new friends. There was even a Quilt Math class which from reports was very much a success!​
And what did three local quilt guilds do? We made them quilts! Following their registration, each young woman selected a hand-made quilt using STEM-themed fabrics or patterns made by members of Pajaro Valley Quilt Association (PVQA), South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild (SBAMQG), and Monterey Peninsula Quilt Guild (MPQG), plus a few friends. We needed 80 quilts, and we received 122!!
And the extra quilts? Quilts generously donated to the STEM Quilt Project which didn’t end up with a camper will support the local community--as a raffle quilt for AAUW (the tuition for Tech Trek attendees is paid in full by AAUW) or as a part of our regular Community Outreach endeavors--Salvation Army, Jacob’s Heart, Camp Erin, Housing Matters, etc. A third possibility is a head start on a 2026 STEM Quilt Project.
Our sincere thanks to those who made quilt tops and/or quilts, to the tireless longarm quilters, to the binders, and to those who donated money for batting and fabric. We wish each and every one of you could have been there to see firsthand the look of awe on the faces of those young women (and their parents) when they entered the room and saw the array of beautiful, colorful quilts and watch as they carefully considered and then selected the quilt of their choice. It was truly a memorable and heartfelt experience, thanks to each and every one of you who contributed to this remarkable endeavor!
The PVQA STEM Quilt Project was featured in an article on the American Quilter’s Society blog in August of 2025. Betsey Langford, Marketing Manager of AQS, said in part: “Thank you for letting us know about this incredible project…thank you for taking the time to put this together and share it with us.”
CZU Lightning Fire Response
The CZU Quilt project was launched in response to the devastating CZU Lightning
Complex fires, with the goal of providing comfort and support to survivors through the
donation and distribution of quilts. Initiated at the end of September 2020, the fire quilt
drive quickly gained momentum and received an outpouring of support from individuals
and organizations across the United States.
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Quilt Collection and Distribution
Over the course of the project, we successfully collected a remarkable total of 1,863 quilts. Of these, 483 quilts were generously donated from out-of-state contributors, while 1,329 came from within California. The overwhelming response enabled us to organize seven Give Away Events at the Live Oak Grange, where we distributed 936 quilts directly to CZU fire survivors.
In addition to supporting CZU fire survivors, we extended our outreach by donating 900 quilts to various community and outreach programs across the region. The remaining 27 quilts were donated to other California fire survivors through Happiness is a Warm Quilt.
Community Partnerships
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Live Oak Grange Women Association (GWA) for their generosity in providing the use of their facility at no charge for our events. Their support played a vital role in the success of our project and allowed us to host multiple distribution events in a welcoming and accessible space.
Additional thanks to We Care and Happiness is a Warm Quilt, whose collaboration has helped ensure that quilts reach those in critical need throughout California.
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Project Expenses
Our project expenses included the rental of storage space, the purchase of batting for quilt assembly, and postage costs for distributing quilts to recipients outside our local area. The careful management of these expenses ensured that the maximum number of quilts could be provided to those in need.
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Appreciation and Acknowledgments
The success of the CZU Quilt project is a testament to the power of community, compassion, and generosity. We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated quilts, volunteered their time, and contributed resources to this effort. Your kindness has brought comfort and hope to hundreds of fire survivors and continues to strengthen our community bonds. Thank you for making the CZU Quilt project a resounding success!​
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Mask Project
PVQA partnered with the South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild (SBAMQG) to serve our community during the COVID-19 pandemic by making cloth masks for donation to health care workers, essential workers, and vulnerable populations in Santa Cruz County.
Since launching the mask project on March 29th, 2020, PVQA has donated over 12,000 masks to organizations in Santa Cruz County, including:
Santa Cruz County Medical Society
Salud Para La Gente
Hospice of Santa Cruz County
Housing Matters
Senior Network Services
Volunteer Center
Sutter Maternity and Surgical Center
Parents Center
In-Home Supportive Services
Community Action Board
Santa Cruz Allergy/ Sutter Health
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
Santa Cruz Veterinary General Practice
Encompass Community Services
California Department of Rehabilitation
Santa Cruz Mutual Aid
Family Services Agency of the Central Coast
Native Indian Youth Leadership Project
Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance
Immigration Task Force of Monterey County
Family and Children’s Services, Santa Cruz County
Isolation Gown Project
PVQA was asked by the Santa Cruz County Health Department and the County of Santa Cruz Office of Emergency Management to sew Isolation Gowns for them. Phase 1 consisted of making 150 gowns for the Santa Cruz County Health Department. Phase 2 consisted of making 260 gowns for the County of Santa Cruz Office of Emergency Management.
Phase 1
The Santa Cruz County Health Department asked PVQA to sew 150 gowns. Each gown uses about 4 yards of fabric. They are not form fitting garments! The County ordered and paid for the fabric which came to 600 yards of poly/cotton blend. They also found a way to cut the fabric for us using a laser cutter normally used for sign making. PVQA members, Helen Klee and Lori Camner, agreed to organize this new request. More than 35 people signed up to sew the gowns.
They delivered 153 gowns to the County Health Department in June, 2020. Officials from the County Health Department were thrilled.
The gowns were distributed to various medical-related organizations. The photo at right is one of the grateful gown recipients who worked at Cabrillo in the dental hygiene lab. She gave the photo to a PVQA member, saying that she was so very grateful to have this gown.
Click the link below to read the article from The Pajaronian:
Delivery of 260 Isolation Gowns
on August 3rd
Phase 2
Pajaro Valley Quilt Association made the local news on Monday, August 3rd, 2020, after delivering 260 isolation gowns to the County of Santa Cruz Office of Emergency Management. The story was carried by both the Santa Cruz Sentinel and The Pajaronian. In addition we were on the 5:00 News on KION TV! The project was started in July when 1440 Multiversity Conference Center in Scotts Valley donated hundreds of used linens to the County.
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David Harnish, from the County asked Helen Klee and Lori Camner if it was possible to sew gowns from this fabric. Ross Newport from Community Printers refurbished equipment in his shop and was able to cut the pattern into the five pieces necessary for each gown. Thirty-four members of our guild and ten people from the community volunteered to sew the pieces together. Helen and Lori made kits using the cut gown pieces, Velcro, ties, and elastic. We asked each person to sew 5 gowns and many people sewed more. Hats off to Pat Goulet who assembled over 20 gowns in this project alone. It was a true community spirited undertaking. The gowns will be distributed to many clinics and medical services agencies. We are proud of the involvement that this guild has been able to represent and accomplish. All part of our Mission Statement, and willingness to help out when asked. Bravo to all involved.
Helen Klee and Lori Camner want to thank all that have been participants in our Isolation Gown project.