Lori Thompson: Quilting a Veteran's Day Salute

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Rich Bennett: I have the true honor of sitting here today with the executive director of a nonprofit that is very dear to my heart and, um, they do a lot. Uh, and when I say a lot, I mean a lot for veterans out there. I have Lori Thompson, which she is the executive director of Quilts of Valor. See I got it right that time.

Rich Bennett: Whatever. I don't want to mess up like I did when I wrote up the article. So how are you doing Lori? 

Lori Thompson: I'm good. I'm good. Thanks Rich for having me today. 

Rich Bennett: Oh, it's my pleasure. So explain to everybody, I guess, first of all, what Quilts of Valor actually is. 

Lori Thompson: Yeah. So, um, a Quilt of Valor is an award. It's a quilt that's specially handmade for a veteran or an active duty service member, um, that is given in a ceremony to honor the veteran's service.

Lori Thompson: And the intent of a Quilt of Valor is to provide comfort and healing for our [00:01:00] veterans and to recognize them. Um, the origin of a Quilt of Valor started back in 2003 by a woman named Katherine Roberts. 20 years ago. Yeah, yeah. And so... Um, at the time her son was deployed overseas and one night she had a dream about a soldier who was distraught.

Lori Thompson: In that dream and somebody wrapped a quilt around him and he was instantly comforted. Wow. Yeah. So her dream sparked the idea of a quilt of valor, and she shared it with her friends and it just took off. It was a grassroots movement for many years, expanded across, um, the us and then in 2000, um, 15, the, um.

Lori Thompson: The movement formalized as a nonprofit and became the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Oh! Yeah, and continued, became a national foundation, um, continued to grow and now today we are at 10, 000 members. We average about 10, 000 members a year [00:02:00] across the U. S. Most of them are in over 600 groups that gather, host sew days, create these quilts as a community and host the awards.

Lori Thompson: Um, 10, 000? 10, 000? Yeah. Whoa. Yeah. That's amazing. They're amazing people, just, just very giving, you know, many, many of our members and volunteers, you know, pay for these quotes out of their pocket, you know, as the National Foundation, we try to work with. Other partners and, um, you know, other means to help the group's fundraise and to support them.

Lori Thompson: But, you know, these folks are amazing, very giving. And many of them are veterans themselves that have served, um, you know, or had somebody in their family. So, very connected to the cause. 

Rich Bennett: So, because of that, I guess you have different chapters throughout the United States? Yeah, we do. Okay. So if somebody, and I was going to ask you this later, but when you said 10, 000 members of like, [00:03:00] Whoa, if somebody would want to start a chapter, how do they go about doing that?

Lori Thompson: Yeah, absolutely. So, um, they can contact us on our website. Um, there's a tab on there that says join, and it has instructions on how to. Get started as a member, how to create a group, or they can just go to our contact form and let us know that they're interested. And then we send, we send that information to either their state or district coordinator.

Lori Thompson: We have over 80 volunteers that serve just to coordinate groups in their state. Whoa. And yeah, so they'll help them get started. And, um, a group, you have to have a minimum of two people to be a group and That's it. That's it. And then, um, you know, there is a membership fee for the group. There's an individual membership fee, a nominal fee, but once they formalize as a group, then they have access to our network and resources to help them get discounts on supplies.

Lori Thompson: Um, you know, and, and they've got a foundation resources to support them in making that. [00:04:00] And our members, you know, can be individual members too. Not all our members are in a group. 

Rich Bennett: So I guess you just have to know how to quilt though, right? 

Lori Thompson: Not necessarily. So, oh, really? Yeah. So, so most of our members are quilters, but, um, we do have some members that they just love to do the awards or they'd love to organize things in their community or go find nominees, you know, go, go connect with veterans and active duty service members.

Lori Thompson: Yeah. In fact, um, in Alaska, we have a fantastic group leader in one of the communities. She doesn't quilt at all. She just organizes the events. She organizes the sew days, does the business part of running the group and her group is happy as can be because the quilters can quilt. So. Well, I take it 

Rich Bennett: there's probably a group here in Maryland already, then 

Lori Thompson: there's several groups.

Lori Thompson: Yes. 

Rich Bennett: Ah, man. Okay. I'll just have to join one of them. I guess. Yeah. I didn't 

Lori Thompson: realize that, you know, go ahead. I'm sorry. 

Rich Bennett: No, go ahead. No, I'm just saying that's awesome. I [00:05:00] 10, 000 members and 

Lori Thompson: wow. Wow. And, 

Rich Bennett: and you only became a foundation in 

Lori Thompson: 2015 Formally. Yeah. So we, we are gonna celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2023.

Lori Thompson: Right. So we do recognize, you know, that first origin back in 2003 when Catherine Roberts got everything started. But yeah, it's, um, yeah, it's, it's amazing. And. We've held steady, you know, during the last couple of years with the pandemic and because one of the challenges is, you know, a sew days are members gathered, but they figured out ways to do that.

Lori Thompson: Um, you know, within that timeframe and they've stuck with it and they make an average of 30, 000 quilts a year. We're on track to be over, uh, have over 30, 000 quilts awarded this year.

Rich Bennett: Wait, wait a minute. I'm sorry. 30, 000 quilts a 

Lori Thompson: year? Yes. Yes. Whoa. [00:06:00] Yeah. It's, it's quite the movement and we just awarded in April are 300, 000 quote. We started tracking, um, our statistics in 2018 and that's how many we estimate that we've awarded since, um, 2018. 

Rich Bennett: I'm sorry, how many 

Lori Thompson: 300, 000, uh, we're about serious.

Lori Thompson: I'm serious. We're about 300 and, um, 34 as of last month. Oh 

Rich Bennett: my God. And when you say that, I'm not looking at it as that many quilts awarded. I'm looking at it as that many veterans that you have worn their hearts. Wow. That's amazing. Now, do you quilt 

Lori Thompson: yourself? I do. I'm a quilter and I'm also what they call a long arm quilter.

Lori Thompson: So I have an industrial machine that does the cool finishing. So, Oh, is that that big 

Rich Bennett: thing that takes up like a whole room? [00:07:00] 

Lori Thompson: You can't see it, but I've got one behind me, but yeah. Yeah. So yeah, I'm a, um, You know, long time. So our quilter long arm quilter. So it's really fun for me to work on the business side of the foundation, but also connect with everybody about quilting, particularly around, you know, our amazing cause.

Rich Bennett: So all right on the quilting part. Because I've only, I only know of two other people that quilt. Are you seeing more? Well, first of all, how long have you been 

Lori Thompson: quilting? Um, well, I've been sewing since I was a 4 H kid. So about 10 years old, but in earnest quilting for about eight years. 

Rich Bennett: Wow. Okay. Are you, have you seen like the amount of quilters?

Rich Bennett: Is that the right word? Quilters? Yeah. Oh, okay. I got that right. Have you seen the amount of quilters throughout the country going up? 

Lori Thompson: I believe so. Yeah. It's the quilt industry. The quilt industry itself is a powerhouse. It's kind of a [00:08:00] quiet powerhouse. Um, I, you know. What was it? We worked with a financial firm in 2019 to figure out our impact to the quilting industry, just quilts of our foundation, and we have a 9 million a year impact.

Lori Thompson: Whoa. Yeah, and quilters, they're dedicated. They're serious. Um, I believe some market research that's probably about 3 years old. I read where quilters have an average stash of fabric and notions. Um, that's not their machines. It's usually the average is about 6, 000. So yeah, it's I mean, you know that the fabric and I can tell you from experience when you go to quilt shows or they have what's called shop hops where shops will do an event where you go from store to store to shop and there's a theme.

Lori Thompson: Um, for example, here in the Denver area, or the front range area here in Colorado, where I live, they have the front range shop hop and last year they did themed, um. Colorado tourist sites, little panels, [00:09:00] and we went crazy. I mean, we had all the stores, got all the panels and I, and yeah, I can tell you from experience why quilters have a big stash.

Lori Thompson: Now I have a big stash of patriotic fabrics, you know, due to the quilts of valor. So we're, we're a pretty serious community and a very giving community, not just, not just within quilts of valor, but just in general. 

Rich Bennett: So with, because I didn't realize this because a quilt and correct me if I'm wrong, has panels, right?

Rich Bennett: Or boards, or what's it called? Like the different sections 

Lori Thompson: and patterns. Yeah, it depends on the type of quilt. So, you'll often, when you think of a quilt, you think of the ones that have the different blocks and designs. Those are pieced quilts, and those are cut from individual pieces of fabric. And then sometimes you'll have the quilts with the panel, you know, with a printed panel or picture in the middle of it with borders around it.

Lori Thompson: So, um... You know, it really kind of depends how the quilt is made, you know, with Quilts of Valor, we, we see a lot of pieced quilts, beautifully pieced quilts, and [00:10:00] then we see a lot of panel quilts that are, are beautifully made as well with intricate borders, and it just kind of depends on the quilter's preference and the recipient.

Lori Thompson: But yeah, there's, those are kind of the two main ways that quilts come together, at least on the top. 

Rich Bennett: So roughly how long does it take now? Of course you got the machine, but how long does it take to make a quilt? 

Lori Thompson: Oh gosh, I would say 20 to 40 hours, maybe depending on how you do it. So you're piecing, well, you got your cutting, you have to cut all that fabric into pieces and there are different, different tools that can help you do that quickly.

Lori Thompson: There's die cutters and. And templates, but, um, yeah, by the time you cut it and you piece the top, you probably have about 10 hours minimum in it. And then the long arm quilting, you have to put it together using the quilt top, the batting in the middle, and a backing fabric. That's called the quilt sandwich.

Lori Thompson: And, um, you know, the long arm quilting is an advantage there [00:11:00] because It depends. Longarm quilting, you have computerized quilting, which is what I do. And then you have, um, where people do it free motion, where they do it by hand. But they're doing it on a machine, you know, guided. Um, and it's kind of interesting.

Lori Thompson: You've got like this. Head unit on the so head and you got two handles and they're just moving it around. Um, but if you, I was gonna say the quilting can take anywhere from 5, 6 hours on a high speed computerized machine up to 20, 30 hours that they're doing free motion. So yeah, so it's, it's definitely a labor of love.

Lori Thompson: Then the final piece is the binding and that's usually a couple hours. Um, that's one of my favorite parts because you're at the end of the quilt. You get to relax and stitch that down. And, uh, my husband, he calls it quilt dessert because he's like, Oh, you got some quilt dessert going on. I'm like, yes, I'm very happy, you know, cause it's the end of the quilt, it's the final moment, [00:12:00] you know?

Lori Thompson: And it's, it's really satisfying. So we're 

Rich Bennett: all right. You say your machine is computerized? 

Lori Thompson: Yeah, I have one of the computerized machines. So, so if 

Rich Bennett: you don't mind me asking, what's something like that run? 

Lori Thompson: Um, it depends. They run between 20, 000 to, um, 40, 000. And, um, so it's a business. Yeah, it is. And that's how I got into Quilts of Valor.

Lori Thompson: I had a long arm business prior to that. Yeah. And so, you know, in my case, yeah, I have more of an industrialized machine, an industry machine, um, because of my business before Quilts of Valor. But, you know, there are long arms, and they call them mid arms, that are smaller. Most long arms are about 10 to 12 foot with their frame.

Lori Thompson: But there are some that are six to eight foot, um, that you do sections of the quilt. And, you know, some of those are a few thousand dollars. And then, um, you can always quilt on your [00:13:00] domestic machine. There are people out there that are very gifted with just quilting on their regular sewing machine. I am not one of them.

Lori Thompson: But yeah, and there's, but there's a lot of people out there that just have that talent or they're what they call quilt as you go methods where you're sewing the batting with the top, um, down at the backing. So there's a way to construct this quilt with all three sections at once. They 

Rich Bennett: just to watch people, well, of course I never watch them make it, but like my neighbor and the other ones that I knew that quilt to see the finished product, it just blows me away.

Rich Bennett: How good they are and I'm surprised that most people actually don't make it a business. Because it's well, and where you're at, you have an advantage because it's cold. People always need them, right? 

Lori Thompson: They always need them. I'm in a larger city. Um, but I, I think it's hard to, because it's, it's a handmade item.

Lori Thompson: And like any handmade item, you have to find somebody willing to pay. For [00:14:00] the quality and the work that goes into it. And, and most people do it because they love it. You know, it's, it's, it's their fun thing, you know, it's their, their thing they do to relax. So, um, yeah, I think there's only a small segment of us that have made it a business at some point.

Lori Thompson: So 

Rich Bennett: you don't do it as a business anymore. 

Lori Thompson: I do still long arm for some customers on the side, but that's, that's separate from my quilts of our work. So, so how that works often is I'm, I'm working, doing meetings. In the morning and early afternoon. And then, then I run the quilter in the background and do my paperwork for the foundation while I'm running the quilter.

Lori Thompson: So 

Rich Bennett: I guess that's a good thing about having a computerized. You could just, you could do other stuff as it's doing it for 

Lori Thompson: you. Right? Yeah. Yeah. I just like to be shot to hear that, but often, often I've got a quilt of valor running on the machine too. I try to contribute as well. And I'm a member of, uh, one of our groups called the long army.

Lori Thompson: And, um, that's a group of over 200 long armors across the country that donate their time [00:15:00] to the long army. 

Rich Bennett: I love it. I love it. That 

Lori Thompson: is so cool. There are, there are long arm quilters and they, they help us get those quilts done. So. So 

Rich Bennett: how'd you become the executive director of Quilts of 

Lori Thompson: Valor? Well, that's an interesting story.

Lori Thompson: Um, Yeah. I, excuse me, I have a non profit background. I've worked with different non profits and membership organizations in the Denver area for off and on for 20 years. I'm always quilted in the creative work on the side and, um, summer of 21, a year ago, I Didn't really think about Quilts of Valor, but somebody had mentioned something about the job market.

Lori Thompson: And I thought, well, I've been doing my business. I'm just curious what's out there. Just, just out of curiosity. And I found the job posting. You said 2021. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so, um, you know, I've been, been home quilting for my customers, saw [00:16:00] the job posting and I was like, Ooh, this looks interesting and kept coming back to it.

Lori Thompson: So I went ahead and applied and, and it's, it's been a great fit. So I get to work in the community, you know, kind of work that nonprofit side that I love as well as quilting and, you know, and I just fell in love with, um, you know, our mission just. Just the award ceremonies. And again, to be part of those moments with our veterans and service members, 

Rich Bennett: you do.

Rich Bennett: Well, you don't, but I mean, you said about 30, 000 a year. 

Lori Thompson: Yeah. Yeah. And part of that is, um, you know, friends and family members awarding quilts. It's not necessarily our members. I'd say a small portion of that is people reporting an award after the fact. Um, so individuals can be involved. They don't necessarily have to be a member.

Lori Thompson: We encourage it because, you know, we, we feel like we're a great community to be a part of, but there is a process for friends and family members to honor somebody. [00:17:00] Okay. And, and have it, um, blogged as an official Quilt of Valor. 

Rich Bennett: All right. So how does that work? Cause I know the Department of Defense is not contacting you all, so I'm sure, I'm sure somebody has to be nominated to get a Quilt of Valor, right?

Rich Bennett: How's that 

Lori Thompson: work? Yeah. We, we work from, um, primarily nominations, so, um, they can go to our website. And there is a, um, nomination tab at the top where if someone clicks on that, they, it gives all the information about the quilt award, you know, kind of the background on a quilt of valor, and then they can fill out the form and nominate somebody.

Lori Thompson: And then that goes through our nomination system, which is routed to our state coordinators, which then routed to our groups. And, um, then they start working on the quilts and we have, um, most of the time we're able to get awards done within 18 months. However, in some states, we don't have as many groups or members or resources.[00:18:00] 

Lori Thompson: So, in some states, unfortunately, we are running, um, past 2 years on that, but next year, we're going to have, um, a push a campaign to go back and address our backlog. So right now, yeah, um, to try to get those that the nominations that are older than 2021. So again, we try to get nominations done as quickly as possible.

Lori Thompson: If they're going to be presented by our groups, you know, obviously individual numbers can make them happen more timely or, you know, individuals in the community that want to honor somebody specifically. Okay, 

Rich Bennett: and there's their donate button on the website as well. 

Lori Thompson: There is. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.

Lori Thompson: Thank you for asking about that. 

Rich Bennett: Well, and that's important because a lot of people don't realize, I mean, some nonprofits get grants, but sometimes even writing God, writing up the grant proposal could take forever and there's not, you know, it's not [00:19:00] guaranteed you're always going to be rewarded that grant.

Rich Bennett: So donations from the public always helps. 

Lori Thompson: Always. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett: And being a, being a national, uh, you know, foundation. So yeah, just because she's in Denver people, I don't care if you're in England, California, Italy, whatever. Yes. You can make a donation. Go to, was it, make sure I get it right.

Rich Bennett: Q O V F. org. Right.

Rich Bennett: Let's just take a little break here so I can talk about one of my co hosts and his business, Joe Aylor of Tar Heel Construction Group. You've heard me talk about them in the past. I'm always bragging about them on social media because they simply are the best. They have the awards, the reviews, everything to prove it.

Rich Bennett: GAF President's Club, GAF Triple A. Excellent award, GAF Master Elite, also won the Hartford [00:20:00] County Living Choice Awards for Best Roofer, also Best of Hartford winner, and recently named in Inc. Magazine's Top 5, 000 Fastest Growing Companies in the Country. The reviews speak for themselves, the awards speak for themselves.

Rich Bennett: If you need a roof, if you need siding, you need gutters, there's only one place to go. And that's Tar Heel Construction Group. Go to tarheelconstructiongroup. com. Again, that's tarheelconstructiongroup. com or give them a call at 410 638 7021. Again, that's 410 638 7021. Tell them Rich from Hartford County Living sent you.

Rich Bennett: I looked on the website and saw a shop thing. Is there a book 

Lori Thompson: there? Yeah. Thank you for asking about that. We, um, Just released a new book of patterns called the all star quilts of valor and it's our second book This one we're particularly excited about because we worked with [00:21:00] 25 designers in the quilt industry And we've got we've got some big names that helped us out in the quilt industry.

Lori Thompson: Really? Yeah, Pat Sloan Ginny Doan of Missouri Star Actually, I'm pretty excited. I got to meet her at Houston and talk to her about the book. So I was fangirling a little bit Um, gosh, who else? Um, there's just a whole list of people, you know, that have helped us out with that and, um, it's, the quilts in the book are going to be part of a National Traveling Quilts Exhibit.

Lori Thompson: There's an organization called, um, the, uh, AQS, the American Quilt Society, and they host five national shows a year, um, and our quilts are going to go to the first three shows as one of their exhibits, and if, if you haven't been to a quilt show, they're amazing, so they usually feature certain types of art or exhibits, you know, for inspiration about the quilts, um, often they'll have contests, and then they'll have the vendor side.

Lori Thompson: as [00:22:00] well, where you can get some pretty fun things. So we're, we're pretty honored to be part of AQS's first few shows. So they'll be in Daytona Beach, um, at the show at the end of February. They'll be in Branson, um, at the show, uh, the show at the end of March. And then they go to Paducah, Kentucky in April.

Lori Thompson: And Paducah is significant because it's Quilt City, USA. You've got the National Quilt Museum. Really? Yeah, it's, it's very quilt centric, a wonderful community, and, uh, one of the National Quilt Museums is there. So after the show in April, our quilts will go to the National Quilt Museum there and be on display until, um, Veterans Day, and then those quilts will be awarded to veterans, um, in the area.

Lori Thompson: Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. And it's, um, you know, it's an exciting time to, to have, you know, the book, have the display and then be able to share those special quotes in 

Rich Bennett: awards. You know what you need to do? Yeah. So get some, [00:23:00] get some, get some, some of the books and just do it a limited number of them, but have the people that have helped out with that book, sign it.

Rich Bennett: Like Pat Sloan and others. That's a great idea. Ah, 

Lori Thompson: that is a great idea. 

Rich Bennett: I'm writing that one down. Just an easy way to raise funds for, you know, Quilts of Valor. Love it. You could even auction them off on the website. Or just sell them on the website. You know, get it, um, sign copies by and list who signed it.

Rich Bennett: I guarantee you, especially quilters, you're going to have a ton. Of people wanting that and why does, why do I know that name? Pat Sloan? 

Lori Thompson: She's a pretty well known quilter. Um, you've probably seen her on Facebook or, um, Instagram on social media. She's, um, I don't know if she's got a show. I just remember her from, from being online or seeing her books and patterns.

Lori Thompson: [00:24:00] So she's been in the industry for a long time. 

Rich Bennett: So if somebody, cause I know you have sponsors as well. Um, if somebody wants to become a sponsor and it doesn't matter where they're from. Correct. Yeah. How does somebody become a sponsor? Do you have different levels or what? How's that work? 

Lori Thompson: Um, they can contact me directly, um, you know, through the, they, they can always email me at executive.

Lori Thompson: directoratqldf. org. Um, we, we're currently creating a sponsorship program, so we, we do work with industry partners and businesses. Um. On different partnerships and affinity programs where we do receive royalties from some of those partnerships. For example, we work with genomi sewing machines and they have a branded quilts of valor machine that has our logo on the front.

Lori Thompson: Really? Yeah. It's pretty fun. It's got a special quilter's edition, so it comes with some extra, um, feet, sewing feet, because those can be expensive to add onto your machine, but it's, [00:25:00] it's the machine's well priced. It comes with the machine. You get a cute little pen and you got the Quilts of Valor logo on it.

Lori Thompson: So that's an example where we get royalties from the machines sold. Um, wow. Yeah. Other businesses. Um, you know, it, it kind of depends on the partnership that we work out. Um, the fat quarter shop, they did a liberty box the summer, which had the start of a quilt of valor is a patriotic theme quilts. And they donated part of the proceeds back to us.

Lori Thompson: Um, and yeah, so we do have a list of people that we work with, but we're always looking for great collaborations. And that's 1 of my favorite things in this role is to, you know, work with the community, see how we can work together, you know. Benefit both businesses, both organizations and what something we can come up with.

Lori Thompson: Um, we're also going to have sponsorship opportunities for our national conference. We're going to have a national 20th anniversary conference back in Paducah, um, [00:26:00] September 13th through the 15th 2023. And you know, then we have events like our national so day is coming up February 4th. That's where you say national 

Rich Bennett: so or snow.

Lori Thompson: Oh, so, so yeah, no, no snow. Sew. 

Rich Bennett: Okay. I thought you said snow day for a minute. So no, we don't want any of that white stuff here. We're just keeping it out there. Yeah. I'm sorry. It's a national so 

Lori Thompson: day. Soda. Yeah. Sorry. Um, but yeah, National Soda, our groups get together, you know, it's kind of a fun event for them to, to celebrate what they're doing.

Lori Thompson: You know, we'll have a Facebook live. We get prizes from our partners. We'll have a lot of giveaways that day. Um, yeah. And then we're planning our, um, 5k. We have a 5k each year. Oh, wow. Yeah. But it's a little different. So we, we call it the take five. You can run Walker block. Okay. The 

Rich Bennett: walk part. I like [00:27:00] run.

Rich Bennett: No. What'd you say? Block 

Lori Thompson: block. So, um, you can make quilt blocks as part. Oh, 

Rich Bennett: I'm thinking of like football. I'm going to block anybody trying to run. Okay. 

Lori Thompson: No, no. We're good. I'm not getting 

Rich Bennett: hurt. That is 

Lori Thompson: no, no, no, no. Just unless you accidentally stabbed yourself with a needle, but there is some danger in quilting.

Lori Thompson: But, um, No, it's, it's basically an opportunity, um, you know, to share what we're doing, engage people that like to do the 5k, but our members, they like to quilt. So it's a way to bring everybody together. And when is that? That'll be May 20th, uh, 2023. All 

Rich Bennett: right. And I don't know if you guys do this or not. But I, I actually do walk some of these five K's, um, more since COVID because I love the virtual ones.

Rich Bennett: Are you guys going to have the virtual walk as well? 

Lori Thompson: Yeah, it's all virtual. So I love it. Yeah. [00:28:00] Yeah. And I'm, I'm happy to stay in touch and share information. We're getting ready to announce, um, registration and, and more information early. In the year next year, is this the first year you guys are doing it?

Lori Thompson: It'll be our third year. We Yeah, we skipped last year. Um, just because we had a lot of growth we had a lot going on In the organization and we we felt it would be better to pair it in our 20th anniversary year So we've done it for a couple years Yeah, thank you. Um, had great participation in the first two years and just excited to connect more people to it.

Rich Bennett: So, with you being the executive director, what are your, what are some of your goals for the foundation that you would like to see? 

Lori Thompson: I would love to connect more people to what we're doing. And, um, You know, definitely grow our membership for me. It's such a joy to be a part of this community, and I love the community that it is.

Lori Thompson: And I want to connect more people are more quilters [00:29:00] and people that just want to be a part of what we're doing. So I have, I have some membership goals for next year on my mind. Um, I also want to do a better job of telling our story. You know, we're still a very young nonprofit, really. Um, and so one of our goals this past year was to increase our marketing.

Lori Thompson: And so there's a lot of goals there, you know, connect, um, more with more industry partners, um, I want to make opportunities, I think, clear, um, and provide more opportunities for individuals to be a part of what we're doing. Not everybody's a group person, but you know, they certainly want to be a part of what we're doing.

Lori Thompson: And we've got some wonderful things that individual. Members or folks outside our community can help with. For example, we have a destinations program that's ran by a fabulous volunteer, Janice Lewis, and that program provides quilts to 10 hospitals and 5 hospices. And that's [00:30:00] a great way. Yeah, that's a great way for individual members to help.

Lori Thompson: And that's outside of our nomination process, you know, because often those quilts need to be awarded quickly. Yeah. And so, you know, that's, that's another great way for people to get involved. So I just, I just want to share a message more. I want to celebrate. 20 years with our community and, um, just, just bring anybody in that wants to help.

Lori Thompson: And, um, you know, I certainly encourage people to nominate anybody they want to honor. But, you know, I also encourage anybody that wants to be a part of this to join in as well, because it takes many hands to make these quilts. And often, you know, the demand is bigger than what we can supply each year. So, you know, just, just kind of spread the word, I guess.

Rich Bennett: Well, and we talked before we started recording, I told you I would like to do, you know, this at least twice a year. Um, but if you want to get the word out even more and as [00:31:00] you're, we're sitting there talking about this, I, I just had to gear started going. Um. Even if you would like to do something once a month like little short stories.

Rich Bennett: Okay, let's do it because Well, let's face it podcast and definitely gets the word out there and I'm reaching people through You know different countries and everything and I think that would definitely help as well and it doesn't cost anything and You know, free marketing is always good. So when you can reach a lot more people that, you know, um, yeah, I mean, if you guys are interested and we could talk more about that after we're done, I'll tell you how we could set it up.

Rich Bennett: Um, cause I think once people hear the stories, whether it be from the different chapters or even the veterans themselves, I think that's going to get the word out a lot more and it'll, [00:32:00] people are going to be like. Oh, my God. I know a veteran that 

Lori Thompson: needs one of these 

Rich Bennett: quilts. You know, I need, I knew somebody and you said even people that are still in active 

Lori Thompson: military, right?

Lori Thompson: Yes. Yes. They can be nominated as well. They just need to be stateside for us to do the work. Right. 

Rich Bennett: Yeah. Well, Yeah, it'd be kind of hard, well, it wouldn't be hard to go overseas, but some places you don't want to go overseas to. Yeah. Or 

Lori Thompson: we've done virtual awards when needed, particularly during the early part of the pandemic.

Lori Thompson: We did a lot of virtual awards, you know, but, uh, no, if, if they, you know, definitely if they're in country, we can make that happen. 

Rich Bennett: Actually. Do you know if you guys have any groups on any military bases? 

Lori Thompson: I. I don't think so, but I know that we've got, some of our state leaders have worked with spouses groups, military spouses groups.

Lori Thompson: Um, yeah, just kind of connected with, um, different families, you know, across the country at bases. But I'll find out. That is a good question. [00:33:00] 

Rich Bennett: And I know what you said, 2018 is when you became executive 

Lori Thompson: director? Oh, I became, um, 20 and 21, so I've been here a little over a year. 20, 21, 

Rich Bennett: I'm sorry. Yeah. I'm sorry.

Rich Bennett: Yeah. Okay. So, I don't know if you have any yet or not, um, but do you have a particular story that really touched your heart that you can share? 

Lori Thompson: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay, here we go. Yeah. So, one of the first awards I went to here, uh, was, in the Denver area, um, was hosted by a group in Parker, Colorado and the Front Range Quilts of Valor.

Lori Thompson: And there were, we awarded quilts to five veterans that day. Among them was a Vietnam veteran. And his whole family came, his granddaughters are just decked out, red, white, and blue dresses, bows, just so adorable. So we get through the ceremony, we hear everybody's story, which, you know, oh my goodness, it's just always amazing and just really touching [00:34:00] to hear how our veterans served.

Lori Thompson: But at the end of the ceremony, his daughter gets up, and keep in mind he's a Vietnam veteran, um, said, I just want to thank You all for doing this. This is the first time my father's ever been publicly recognized for his service. Are you serious? I'm serious. Wow. Yeah, I still kind of tear 

Rich Bennett: up thinking about that.

Rich Bennett: Was there enough Kleenex there for everybody 

Lori Thompson: after that? No. There wasn't. Oh my god. Yeah. And I mean, that really drove home to me the importance of what we do. I mean, that was kind of a defining moment for me to think, you know, here we are decades later. And this is the first time that this gentleman is being recognized for his service.

Lori Thompson: Um, and in that award ceremony, too, there was a gentleman who was a Korean War veteran. And, you know, he was sharing about his service, and he said, Well, I wasn't on the front line, you know. So, I, I do appreciate this, but I, [00:35:00] I wasn't in the thick of it, but what I did do is I was a dental assistant who helped put the soldiers back together in San Diego when they came home.

Lori Thompson: And it's like, sir, you were impacted by war. You had such an important role. And I, I think he saw his service differently that day. Yeah. And we've, we've heard that from, uh, you know, our service members and our veterans that are honored with a Quilt of Valor, that it's often a turning point for them and how they see how they served.

Lori Thompson: See, that's 

Rich Bennett: the thing. And I know there are people that have served and they feel just because they weren't in the thick of it, that they don't deserve none of that. Well, the thing is, no matter what branch, it's a brotherhood and a sisterhood and you're, you all help each other one way or another, whether they said, you know, what'd you say?

Rich Bennett: A dental hygienist or a dental assistant or even training those. That have gone over, or even if you're handling the paperwork stateside for [00:36:00] somebody to come home, you know, a lot of people don't realize it's how much of an impact, no matter what you do in the military, you're, you're still there. It's, that's why it's always a well oiled machine, you know, everybody works together.

Rich Bennett: Yeah. You have to get the job done. 

Lori Thompson: Yeah. Absolutely. And, and, you know, the, the fact is, is those that serve, they answer the call. Not everybody does that. And to do that, I think is, is special. I mean, I don't really have words for it. Um, but to think about somebody who's, who's willing to say, send me wherever, tell me how to serve.

Lori Thompson: That's amazing. 

Rich Bennett: Yeah, 

Lori Thompson: it is well, and I understand that you are a veteran. I just understand Marine Corps veteran. Yes. Awesome. Awesome. Well, I want to thank you for your service. 

Rich Bennett: Uh, it, oh, it was an honor. Um, yeah, and, and we still, I still [00:37:00] stay in touch of a lot of guys I served with. Yeah. Like I said, although I did get yelled at this year because my best friend who's over in Italy now, I didn't call him on the Marine Corps birthday or Veterans Day and I'll always know.

Rich Bennett: Yeah. Well, it was my, my phone broke and when I finally got the new one and, and I forgot to put, cause he uses WhatsApp over there in Italy. And I forgot to put it on my phone. So Suge, I apologize, brother. I'm bad Jaeger too. I forgot to call Jaeger. Oh my God. I better shut up. I'll put my foot in my bed.

Rich Bennett: There's a lot of people I forgot to call this year. I am in 

Lori Thompson: trouble. Let's say your list is growing, huh? It 

Rich Bennett: is, it is, but it's funny because we, I mean, even the guys that I didn't serve with, uh, but they still served, it's at, it's just that. Bond. Yeah. And no matter how old you are or how young you [00:38:00] are, it's like we always have each other's backs, no matter what.

Rich Bennett: And I think I can honestly, honestly say for what you're doing from all of us, I want to say thank you because. It does, it makes a difference and like I told you before we started recording, when I was awarded with my quote of valor, I was just, I was speechless, which is unusual for me as I think my wife said, Oh my God, you didn't say anything.

Rich Bennett: It's like, I was just. I was in shock, to be honest with you, and the thing is so beautiful. I mean, those things and, and warm. Oh God. And I felt bad because the lady that presented Sally, she did wrap it around me. And I wasn't even thinking about that part. It's like, no, I just want to take it off and look at it.

Rich Bennett: Let me see it. Let me see it. [00:39:00] So, but no, in all seriousness, I want to thank you. Um. And you guys are doing such a great thing. Everybody listening again, make sure you go to q o v f. org, make a donation. And what Laurie said to become a member, even if you don't quilt, right? 

Lori Thompson: Absolutely. We would welcome anybody who'd like to help.

Lori Thompson: That's one of 

Rich Bennett: her goals. She wants to build membership up. So damn it. Become a member. Membership is cheap too, isn't it? 

Lori Thompson: Yeah. It's, um, 40 a year. 40 a year. Yeah, or if you become part of a group, it's 10 as a group member. That's cheap. 

Rich Bennett: Yeah. That's fair. I know there are other organizations out there where you're going to pay a lot more than that.

Lori Thompson: So 

Rich Bennett: wait a minute, since when are you supposed to pay to volunteer? Well, guess what? If it's a nonprofit, you have to, [00:40:00] well, if you become a member of it. So Lori, is there anything you would like to add? 

Lori Thompson: Um, no, I just appreciate, you know, the opportunity to be here today with you and, and to share a story and, and just encourage.

Lori Thompson: Anybody who's interested to join our ranks and, you know, thank those that have supported our mission and really give the thank you to our volunteers, to our members. They, they are the amazing ones in our organization that ensure that our veterans and our active duty service member receive these quotes, so.

Lori Thompson: Oh, 

Rich Bennett: thank you. And it's, like I said, it's been an honor. And, um, I'm really looking forward to doing more of these with you and to hear the stories of, um, not just from the people that have received the quilt, but even the ones that have made them and presented them. There are so many stories there. And I just know it's going to, it's going to touch people's hearts and, um, [00:41:00] hopefully build up the foundation even more.

Lori Thompson: Oh, thank you. Thank you. Our, our quilters are unsung heroes in our organization. Their stories are amazing and it will be great to share theirs as well. So thank you. 

Rich Bennett: Oh, my pleasure.