Nearly 2,000 quilts sewn for Pulse survivors, first responders

ORLANDO, Fla. — A kind gesture to comfort victims of the Pulse nightclub terror attack turned into a movement for one local organization.

The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild asked its members to make 102 quilts for survivors of the massacre and victims’ relatives.

So many people pitched in to help that nearly 2,000 quilts were made -- the culmination of months of hard work.

The effort began in the living room of guild President Alissa Lapinsky.

Not long after the shooting, she and guild members wanted to do something.

“I thought our talent and skills could be used giving items we made because it's what we love to do,” Lapinsky said. “These [quilts] are [from] members of our group. These are [from] people from all over the world -- 23 countries, all 50 states." %

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In total, Lapinsky said, more than 1,700 quilts were made.

“Quilts are fabric with love stitched into them,” she said. “So [what] better way to help people that have been hurt and harmed than to give them something they can use forever?”

Most of the quilts were recently distributed to survivors and first responders.

Guild member Frank Palmer, who knew people who were killed in the attack, said contributing to the project gave him hope. %

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“It showed me people do care," he said. “There’s good people out there.”

Firefighters who responded to the mass shooting will be the next to receive quilts.

“It’s taken over 17,000 yards of fabric, 400,000 yards of thread,” Lapinsky said. “It makes me proud of my guild and the quilting community. And the people, when they get them -- there is nothing quite like it, knowing you've helped someone.”

Cox Media Group