Community Involvement
Our primary focus for charitable outreach is The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE). For victims of interpersonal violence (sexual assault or domestic violence), CEE provides support services in the form of counseling and advocacy, crisis intervention, and emergency shelter. Everyone deserves to live a life free from violence. They are here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our store owner, Erin Byrne, is Chair of the Board of CEE.
We make and donate quilts to be given to clients at their residential facility and sponsor events through the year. In 2023, we hosted a quilt raffle with quilts made by our staff, teachers and friends that raised $20,000! More recently, we hosted a backpack sewing party where friends of the store sewing drawstring bags that were donated to those in our temporary housing. Since 2023 we have sponsored all three of their premier fundraising events, Hearts of Hope Breakfast, Annual Dinner, and SafeWalk annually.
Quilts that Care
Quilts that Care provides comfort and hope for cancer patients. Our volunteers handcraft and donate quilts to individuals undergoing cancer treatments in 21 cancer facilities across the state. In thirteen years, they have made over 7,800 quilts for Connecticut cancer patients. Their mission is to bring warmth and solace during their cancer journey.
Cotton Candy Fabrics supports Quilts That Care with discounted products, donation of materials for quilt making and community advocacy for their efforts. In 2024 we were honored at their Annual Cocktail Party for our efforts.
Learn more at https://quiltsthatcare.org/index.html
Erin and Rob accept award, 2024
Katy and Kristi Lynn attend 2025 event
Erin was instrumental in revitalizing the Mountain Laurel Quilt Gild after the pandemic. She is a past President and past Vice-Chair and Programs Chair. Currently, Cotton Candy Fabrics supports the Guild with support for programs as well as in-kind donations.
The Guild meets on the first Thursday of every month at the John Pettibone Community Center in New Milford, CT. Interested parties are invited to attend one meeting before paying dues to become a member. Learn more here!
Bridgewater Fair
Erin serves as Chair of the NeedleArts exhibit of the Bridgewater Fair, and the entire staff works together to encourage sewists and fiber artists of all ages to submit their work for exhibition and an awards competition. This entails promoting the NeedleArts competition, accepting entries, setting up the exhibit with local volunteers, securing judging, communicating with entrants, breaking down the exhibit and coordinating prizes for winners. Every year the Fair hosts a beautiful and diverse display of quilts, crochet and knitted items, and other sewing projects. Learn more at https://www.bridgewaterfair.com/
