By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A quilt can be much more than a way to stay warm in the cold winter months. Quilts are a work of art that can tell a story as unique as the person who put it together, provide decorative feature pieces in a room and also be a peace offering and gift that can be cherished for future generations.  

This weekend Lutheran Island Camp is hoping that close to 200 quilts can not only provide physical warmth and comfort, but also provide an opportunity for youth from across the region to attend Lutheran Island Camp for years to come. The camp, which is located on East Battle Lake in rural Henning, will be hosting its annual quilt auction on Saturday morning. The day will get underway with quilt viewing at 8:30 a.m., while the live auction will start at 10 a.m.

Proceeds from the quilt auction will benefit the camp and its youth summer program. The program provides funding necessary for families who cannot afford to send their child to the summer camp.

“(Proceeds from the auction) keep it affordable for kids who want to come to camp,” said Lutheran Island Camp Executive Director Stacy Lung.

Without fundraisers like the annual quilt auction, Lung said Lutheran Island Camp would need to raise its prices for children to attend camp, which could make it too costly for some families to attend.

Quilts for the auction are donated by organizations, individuals and groups from across the region. Lung said some of the quilts come from as far away as Arizona and Idaho, from people who want to support the cause of the rural Henning camp. 

“Some of them are coming from quilters from out of state,” she said. 

The quilts are a mixture of handmade and machine sewn, meaning there is a bit of something for everyone at the large auction at the camp. 

Half of the quilts will be sold as part of the live auction, while the remaining quilts will be auctioned off online at www.islandcamp.org/quilt-auction on Proxibid.

The online auction really gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and has expanded the reach of the single largest annual fundraiser for Lutheran Island Camp. Lung said having an online auction allows people to purchase quilts who may be out of state or the area, but still want to either support the camp or purchase a unique quilt for home. All of the quilts, including those as part of the online auction, will be available for viewing on Aug. 3. The online auction will go from Aug. 3-9.

In addition to the quilts, Saturday will also include a new grab and go “Handmade Treasures Boutique.” Lung said the boutique will feature everything from afghans to pot holders and candy that will be able available to purchase during the quilt auction. The canteen will also be open so those in attendance can purchase things like candy and ice cream. Hamburgers and other items will also be sold throughout the day. 

The quilt auction is open to the public and will get underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the camp. Lutheran Island Camp is located at 45011 230th St. in rural Henning.