Jean Quilts Warm Wounded U.S. Soldiers

Andrea Holldorf Cuts Jeans Into Squares And Sews Them Into Quilts To Offer Comfort To War Heroes

(CBS)  In the teensy town of Grant, Iowa, population only 100 or so, the busiest — and noisiest — place just might be right in Andrea Holldorf's living/sewing room, CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports.

"My husband helps me and we cut at night," Holldorf says.

They cut old blue jeans into squares to sew into quilts, one square at a time. The quilts are intended to warm the bodies — and souls — of wounded American soldiers.

"Blue jeans is something that just about everybody wears and that's comfort. To me, it's comfort, and I hope to them it's comfort," Holldorf says.

Holldorf's brother served in Desert Storm and her mother during the Korean War. She says a lot more goes into these quilts than just the jeans.

"I have got a lot of love in these quilts because I know the sacrifices. I do. In my heart I know. And I just hope this helps just a little bit," Holldorf says.

As a kidney cancer survivor, the retired 58-year-old understands suffering and the need to focus on something bigger than herself.

But she had no way of knowing that her labor of love would take on a life of its own. Just days after CBS affiliate KCCI told Holldorf's story — and it was distributed nationally — something extraordinary happened.

Blue jeans began arriving by the truckload from every corner of the country. She received so many that she and her husband, Al, were in danger of being "boxed out" of their home and their RV.

"The first week, I got a hundred-and-some boxes. And it was anywhere from 12-to-25 boxes a day," Holldorf says.

It was evidence, she says, that everybody wants to help. What she needs now are quilting supplies and help with the cost of getting the quilts from the U.S. to injured soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington.

"They're getting hurt over there, and they don't have their family to hold them or hug them and say it's going to be all right, and this is kind of my way of saying 'it's going to be all right. We love you; it's going to be all right,'" Holldorf says.

Or at least a little bit better, with the help of people Andrea Holldorf.

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Andrea says no more jeans: She has plenty. But if you would like to donate quilting supplies, like batting (low loft crib size) or thread (machine quilting, blue or any color), or money for postage, please send it to:

Andrea Holldorf
P.O. Box 258
408 Jefferson
Grant, IA 50847

[kkm3451]

As a quilter, I was so touched by Jean's generosity. As a rule, quilters are very generous and always willing to give of their creativity to comfort others.
For the past 18 months, I have been sending quilts to hurricane survivors on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who lost so much to Hurricane Katrina.
There are always folks somewhere who need the warmth and comfort that a handmade quilt provides. From soldiers to newborns to elderly to storm survivors, we quilters take them to heart and try to provide them comfort with the labor and love of our quilting.

[boston1954]

To Chimneyfish:

This was a story about a nice lady who was thinking of someone other than herself. It was NOT political!!

[wellthom]

I am located in Tampa Bay Florida. Is there anyone in the Florida area who is doing something for our soldiers like that wonderful Andrea Holidorf in Grant, Iowa or Sue Nebeker in
Vashon Island, Washington. I am in the Southeast and a quilter...who is down here doing something like this? What if there was an entire Network of Quilters out there can CBS find them....The average age of a Quilter is 59 and spends more than $5,000 per year on quilting materials per person....there is alot of us out there....Let us know more about this...

Jean De Mange
St. Petersburg, FL

[dangib2224]

A very heartwarming story. Thanks to Andrea for all her work. My donation to Andrea will be in today's mail. I hope others do the same.

[rjaartdealer]

Great story and best wishes to all that get the quilts. May your recovery be quick. My thoughts are always with all servicemembers of your great nation.

When my husband was deployed to Iraq, I got myself a sewing machine and started to quilt. I have made a few. One quilt was a tie quilt for my oldest son to remember when dad was in Iraq. Now that son has volunteered for Iraq. I would really like to make my other son a tie quilt so he can remember when his brother was in Iraq.

If anyone has old ties that they are not in need of anymore you could send them to:
Mike's tie quilt
Attn.: Roberta
N12411 100th street
Downing, WI 54734

Thanks to all of our service men and women!

[pateap]

I am just learning to quilt myself and can appreciate the time, effort and love that is going into each and every square on those quilts! Hats off to Jean. Let's hear more of these kinds of stories.

pateap

[boston1954]

That was a beautiful heart warming story. I love to hear about people who give of themselves.