Over two days last week, VMRC’s Village Hall was abuzz with a Comforter Knotting Blitz! The Blitz began in the spring of 2010 when VMRC resident Betty Brunk and her sister, Louretta Wilson organized the first event at Weavers Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. The two women, along with a group from the church, worked to complete 25 comforters that would be sent to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and then distributed throughout the world to those in need. In that first year, a second blitz was held in the fall that resulted in another 25 completed comforters for MCC’s mission – quite impressive work in such a short amount of time!

In 2016, the coordinator reins were handed over to LuAnn Bender and Deb Layman, although Betty is still very much involved. In 2019, the Blitz was moved to VMRC where the volunteer group has grown to include VMRC residents, community members and this year, the addition of students from Eastern Mennonite School. Read more about EMS student participation here.

Taking in the scene at Village Hall – women chatting as they knot pieces of fabric together, sewing and working side by side with students from kindergarten through high school-aged – there is a sense of comfort in the room as they work to provide both literal and figurative comfort for those in need around the world. 
                                                                   

Pictured above left is founder of the Blitz Betty Brunk and above right co-coordinators LuAnn Bender and Deb Layman.