Love on a Mission will show off new quilt project at Mansfield Gay Pride

James Simpson II, Mansfield News Journal
·2 min read

Love on a Mission (LOAM), a nonprofit organization that aims to create a safe place for LGBTQ+ youth in the Richland County community, will present a new quilt for the public to see at the Mansfield Gay Pride event on Saturday.

Over the summer, LOAM worked on a community project that involved creating a traveling community quilt that used mixed-media materials to create individual quilts.

Love on a mission received a grant from Richland County Foundation Summertime Kids for a second straight year to work on a community project, with the age range for the youth being between 12-18.

This quilt is called the Quilt of Strength, which was done by youths in the Love on a Mission organization.
This quilt is called the Quilt of Strength, which was done by youths in the Love on a Mission organization.

"A traveling community quilt will be displayed at different organizations throughout our community to share awareness about both LOAM and the LGBTQIA+ youth of our community," said Deena Hamilton, the founder and executive director of Love on a Mission.

"It will first travel to Mansfield Pride where it will be on display and will end at our annual LOAM fundraising gala, Lights, Camera, Action, on Saturday, Nov. 11., where it will be auctioned off," Hamilton said. "Last year, our mosaic traveled to Mansfield Pride, Mansfield Art Center, the 2022 LOAM Gala and is currently at the Richland Academy of the Arts."

Debra Weaver, the LOAM board president, came up with the idea and wrote the grant proposal for the community project. Victoria Hoefler, a community artist, led the project with the youth. Hamilton said 11 students participated.

Hamilton says the quilt is called "Quilt of Strength."

"It represents the amazing strength, courage, resilience, and creativity of the LGBTQIA+ community especially within our youth," Hamilton said. "The creativity of our youth is expressed throughout the quilt, they have put a lot of time and energy into this project.  Some of them have even taken their sections home to work on."

During the project, the youth learned how to sew and embroidery.

"They have enjoyed this project, especially the embroidery pieces," Hamilton said. "They have already expressed ideas for future projects. Seeing their excitement has been rewarding."

Hamilton says the group of kids meet every Monday and Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. and will look to raise more than the $30,000 they raised at last year's gala.

"Last year, we raised over $30,000 at our annual gala and obviously we'd love to raise more this year," said Hamilton, who says the quilt is 6ftx6ft. "The quilt will be auctioned off with a homemade cherry quilt rack made by an anonymous donor. It's beautiful."

jsimpson@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Love on a Mission will show new quilt project at Mansfield Gay Pride