One of our Charter Members, Ann Cosgrove, was an elementary school teacher at Rock Creek Elementary in Shawnee, many years ago. While there, she taught a boy named Freeland Wood, who is now serving as the Pottawatomie County Sheriff. Last winter several guild members were discussing organizations where we could donate quilts. This was around the time that a boy from Chickasha had been missing and was subsequently found. We agreed that it would have been wonderful if the rescuers could have wrapped that child in a quilt when they found him. The quilt would have warmed him, but also been comforting in a stressful situation. This got the ball rolling for what we were able to do July 31, 2026.

Ann was able to reconnect with Sheriff Wood and he thought the idea of quilts for people facing a crisis was a great idea. We presented the opportunity to the guild at a general meeting in the Spring. Several members donated quilts and by the end of July we had 21 quilts suitable for wrapping around a person in need of comfort.

Sheriff Wood invited us to come to the station to present the quilts. Ann Cosgrove, Gretchen Gaskill and Gina Ames attended, bringing 21 unique quilts of varying sizes. Each of the officers we met were kind, friendly and impressed by the quantity of the quilts we brought. While talking with them we learned one of the officer’s was the grandson of our founder, Sara Epley.

We have been told that officers have already put at least one of these quilts into action. While we don’t know all the details, a child was comforted with one of the quilts within a few days of this presentation. A small child wrapped in the love offered by a handmade gift. Thank you to everyone who has participated in this worthy cause. As we told the Sheriff’s Dept. we will make more as the needs arise.