Threads and Treads donates 70 quilts to veterans

DOUG SCHRODER PHOTO The Journal
GCC Threads and Treads quilters (sitting, L-R) Lois Bauscher, Sue Bauscher, Nancy Parker, and (standing, L-R) Barb Watermolen, Jeannie Dzielak, along with Vietnam2Now pastor Bob Theroux, pose with the 70 quilts the ladies made and donated for area veterans.

By Doug Schroder
CORRESPONDENT
On Tuesday, Oct. 8 the GCC Threads and Treads quilters of Loves Park donated 70 hand made quilts to be distributed to veterans this coming holiday season. The donation was made before the monthly meeting of the Gentlemen Car Club (GCC), held at VFW Post 9759 on Windsor Road in Loves Park. Pastor Bob Theroux of Vietnam2Now accepted the quilts and will take care of the distribution when he and his team of volunteers travel to 52 nursing homes and assisted living facilities in a five county area to visit around 1400 veterans. The distribution starts the day after Thanksgiving and continues right up to Christmas Eve.
The GCC Threads and Treads club is made up of five ladies who are wives of Gentlemen Car Club members. Those ladies are Lois Bauscher, Sue Bauscher, Nancy Parker, Barb Watermolen and Jeannie Dzielak, The group started making the quilts in May this year, working until early October to complete the task. All material for the quilts is donated to the club.
This is the second year that Threads and Treads has donated quilts for veterans. Last year was the first year the ladies took up the endeavor, donating a total of 36 quilts.
Before that the Gentlemen Car Club would make a yearly donation to the cause.
“They have been very supportive,” said Pastor Theroux.
For Pastor Bob Theroux this is the eighteenth year that he has distributed care packages to veterans during the holidays.
“Every veteran gets a blanket, two pairs of socks and some literature on veterans rights and benefits. Also they get a plate of about a dozen Christmas cookies. Last year we went through about 28,000 cookies. A lot of people help with this, including businesses,” said Pastor Theroux.
For comparison, when Pastor Theroux started the holiday packages for veterans 18 years ago he only went to one facility, handing out four cookies apiece to 15 veterans.
“Here’s what touches my heart. The very first time we did it we found out there were veterans in nursing homes with no family at all. Here they were, all alone at Christmas time, no gifts, no visitors, no nothing. That’s why we started Christmas for Vets,” explained Pastor Theroux.
When visiting the veterans Pastor Theroux and his volunteers don’t just drop off the gifts and run. They take the time to talk and engage in conversation with each veteran.
“We spend about an hour with each vet. At the very end we come to attention and give them a salute. You should see some of those guys. They never forget,” added Pastor Theroux.
If anyone would like to volunteer and/or donate to Christmas for Vets call Pastor Bob Theroux at 815-505-6321, or he can be reached by email at [email protected].
For questions or contact info about the Threads and Treads quilters go to the Gentlemen Car Club website at gentlemencarclub.com. Donations for quilts are taken year round. At this time the ladies aren’t sure how many quilts will be made in 2020/