Vets' Hospital: Please Stop Sending Quilts

Quilters say it's because of the bedbug scare
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 21, 2011 12:04 PM CDT
Minneapolis Veterans Hospital Asks Quilters to Stop Sending Quilts, Maybe Because of Bedbugs
Quilters in Minneapolis have to ease off their donations to veterans for a while.   (Shutterstock)

Enough with the quilts already. That's the message the Minneapolis VA has sent to local quilters, even if there's disagreement on the reason why. As the Star Tribune explains (in a story spotted by Pat's Papers), the VA says it simply has no more room for them. But a local quilters group says VA officials told them to ease off because of a bedbug infestation at a different VA facility.

The latter explanation didn't sit well with the Quilts of Valor group: "Bedbugs come from humans using the quilts and they are not used, they are new. I can assure you we are not using these things and giving away used items." The VA didn't explain the mixed messages, but gives this as the official explanation: "We have an overabundant supply of lap robes, quilts, blankets, neck pillows, armrest pillows, heart pillows, slippers, and laundry bags." In the meantime, the quilters are quilting away for vets in other organizations. (More quilts stories.)

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