Anyone who visits the upper level of the Moniteau County Library on a Tuesday will be met with a bustle of activity as the Bookworm Sewing and Quilting group works its magic.
The crew gathers upstairs each week to work in a communal setting that group members have grown to describe as a "sisterhood" and even as a "therapy."
For those who keep a finger on the pulse of major events in California, and Moniteau County at large, they're the group behind the Quilts of Valor presented to area veterans each year. Since they started contributing their talents to the outreach effort in 2012, giving away five quilts that year, they've given more than 230 Quilts of Valor to veterans. That includes the more than 20 quilts completed for the group's most recent presentation, which took place last month as part of the California Eagles' day-long fundraiser in honor of veterans.
Anyone interested in submitting a nomination for a future Quilt of Valor recipient simply needs to let the group know; nomination forms are available at the library, placed on the brochure rack.
But that's not all. Outside of those Quilts of Valor, the group has sewn weighted blankets for children with autism, turbans for cancer patients, and Angel Dresses - bereavement burial outfits for deceased newborn babies. More recently, they've also sewn chair covers for students at a mid-Missouri school, to help with the school's measures against COVID-19.
Sometimes, it turns into almost an "assembly line" of quilters all working on the same project, group member Judy Scott said.
"And you can learn so much we learn from each other," Scott said. "We find out about tools - Carol (Woehrer) always has a lot of new tools, she was just showing me one today, a new tool that just came out."
Fellow group member Carol Woehrer described events like the group's recent Quilts of Valor presentation as a culmination of that effort. Woehrer said the group couldn't have expected the high number of community members who showed up to see the proceedings.
It's a worthy showing for area veterans, and she said that's what truly matters. They routinely make it seem like the quilters should be thanked rather than the veterans, Woehrer said, despite the sacrifices they as veterans are being duly acknowledged for.
"At least somebody cries at every one," Woehrer said. "They make us cry, because they are so humbled."
Special projects aren't the only work group members complete during their time together each Tuesday. Scott said it's also important to members that they're able to work on their own personal projects. The group doesn't turn anyone interested in joining in away either, Scott said.
It makes for a welcoming environment, complete with plenty of knowledgeable quilting and sewing connoisseurs, stations for ironing and cutting, and tools and storage areas that help while quilting is in process and keep the upper level of the library tidy and usable for other occasions when the group isn't in session.
Some members of the group even travel to "quilt camps," retreats where they can further immerse themselves in their favorite hobby.
"It's our time away from other things to enjoy this, plus do good for the community and enjoy each other's company," Scott said. "We have a lot of laughs."
It's a therapeutic practice, Scott and Woehrer agreed, for the quilters and for those in the community who receive the fruits of their labor.