The Wrap-A-Smile quilt initiative, providing comfort quilts to children receiving Rotary-related surgeries, is continuing its mission.

This monumental Rotary International (global) program has been housed at the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club for some time. Its international chair is a local member of Rotary, Dr. Ann Demeranville, well supported by her husband, Past President of the Boston Rotary, Steve Demeranville. This dynamic pair have been an inspiration to this community and across the globe. Nearly 27,000 quilts to over 30 different countries have been produced by volunteer quilters from across the globe. As its current leader states “while we tally the number of quilts, the more important total is the number of lives transformed through the volunteer surgeries.”

The far reaching program will continue its successful operations out of the local Rotary Club while the Demeranville duo will be moving to North Carolina. They will be sorely missed but they will continue their membership in the Boothbay Rotary; most important, Ann will continue to serve as its chair.

Ann said, “Even though the international medical missions are currently on hold due to COVID, the medical needs remain and there will be a backlog of children waiting for treatment. Wrap-A-Smile wants to make sure that every child treated receives their own special quilt when their surgery finally happens, so this is a great time to build inventory.”

The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club receives quilts from all over the country, in addition to many made in our local community. The quilt pictured came from Ohio, with “T’s” in the design to commemorate Wells, Maine Rotarian Terry Hodskins Fullam, founder of the quilt project, who passed away last spring.

For more information about helping with this project, contact Ann Demeranville at quilts7780@gmail.com or view the website at wrapasmilequilts.blogspot.com

Simple kits of precut fabric, offered at no charge, are available to help new quilters get started.