Coggon Community Comforters honors local fire departments
Firefighters with the Troy Mills Fire Department gather with comforters embroidered with the department’s insignia, presented by the Coggon Community Comforters. Fifteen red, white and blue comforters were given to members in recognition of their service.
Coggon Community Comforters honors local fire departments
By Laura Drummy
Northern Linn County first responders, who are familiar with responding to emergency calls, were recently on the receiving end of gratitude when the Coggon Community Comforters completed a service project recognizing local fire departments in Troy Mills, Prairieburg, Walker and Coggon.
The group presented a total of 72 quilts across the four departments last year, including the spring donation, when the project began with Coggon Fire Department volunteers.
According to Volunteer Kathy Baty, the group presented 15 red, white and blue quilts to the Troy Mills Fire Department, each embroidered with the department’s insignia by Brooks Embroidery. Most of the department’s 15 members were present for the surprise presentation.
“Troy Mills Fire Department would like to graciously thank the Coggon Community Comforters for generously making quilts with our patch on them for each of our members,” said Officer Kim Fiala of the Troy Mills Fire Department. “We can't thank them enough for their support and kindness in our community. We are blessed for all the support we receive from our surrounding communities.”
In Prairieburg, the Comforters made 11 quilts and, at the department’s request, created three additional ones. Latha Bildstein and Sharon Price presented the quilts and served bar cookies while visiting with firefighters and learning more about the challenges they face.
“The quilts made us feel very appreciated by our mutual aid community and the folks at Coggon Community Comforters, who made blankets that give us warm fuzzy feelings when chilled,” said Prairieburg Fire Chief John Hasler.
Walker Fire Department members also received personalized quilts, including 18 presented. The department also received an extra one for a member facing health challenges.
“We appreciate you doing this for us,” said Walker Fire Chief Cody Voss.
And finally, the Coggon Fire Department received 25.
Coggon Fire Chief Jamie Coleman told the Linn News last spring he admires the group for honoring the department that serves without seeking recognition or pay, simply to help the community they love.
“It is very admirable to see a small town like Coggon can produce something like this for so many people that don't expect to get any recognition for what they do,” said Coleman. “We got into this not wanting pay or not wanting recognition or anything like that. We did this strictly because we wanted to help people. I know, I know it's a bit cliche that we got into this to help people, but you know, for us, that's really why we got into it. So, just receiving these gifts really definitely means a lot.”
Sharon Price, one of the group's volunteers, said the reactions from first responders are always meaningful.
“They’re our giver peoples,” Price said. “So to receive something is solely, totally different for them. They were delighted to receive them.”
The Coggon Community Comforters was established in 2010 as a community project at Zion Presbyterian Church by the late Winifred Pillard and four other women. The group began with five members meeting weekly. Today, about 15 women from Coggon, Walker, Prairieburg, Central City and surrounding communities gather on Monday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. at the church.
In its first year, the group donated 19 quilts. Since the group's founding, over 3,000 quilts have been distributed throughout eastern Iowa.
The Coggon’s Zion Presbyterian Church donates space and materials, including batting for the quilts. Early on, members raffled a quilt each year to raise money for supplies. Now, fabric donations arrive regularly, sometimes by the truckload, from families looking to share materials left behind by loved ones.
“We just have a lot of fun together,” Price said. “Every quilt is probably touched by each one of us before it goes out the door.”
The group has donated quilts to veterans, hospitals, hospice patients, children, new babies and organizations such as Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Manchester, which builds beds for children in need and uses quilts made to specific sizes.
Members photograph the quilts before distribution, honoring one of Pillard’s original requests and keeping scrapbooks that document where each comforter goes.
The Coggon Community Comforters remains open to anyone interested in volunteering. Sewing experience is not required. Monetary and material donations are also welcome.
For more information, contact Coggon Community Comforters at 319-350-5651.
Representatives of the Prairieburg Fire Department hold comforters made and donated by the Coggon Community Comforters. The group created 14 quilts for the department, surprising firefighters with the handmade show of appreciation.
Firefighters with the Troy Mills Fire Department gather with comforters embroidered with the department’s insignia, presented by the Coggon Community Comforters. Fifteen red, white and blue comforters were given to members in recognition of their service.
Members of the Walker Fire Department display handmade comforters presented by the Coggon Community Comforters. The personalized comforters were created to thank firefighters for their service to the northern Linn County community.
