In 2018, when Cabin in the Woods on the grounds of Togus VA Medical Center opened to male and female homeless veterans and their families, each of the 21 permanent homes was complete. But two residents from the Boothbay area thought the homes were missing one very comforting item: a quilt.

Edgecomb resident Bruce Barter noticed the cabins on a trip to Togus last year and thought of his daughter Erin and her fellow quilters. "I went into the office and asked if it would be OK if they made blankets for the veterans," he told the Register.

"Dad asked me if our quilting group would be willing to do it," explained Erin, who resides on Southport. "I asked and we said 'Of course.'"

With that, the Southport Island quilters started making a quilt for each cabin. As Erin, a social worker at Nobleboro Central School, explained, it took several months for the group's eight members from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport to create all the quilts, using donated fabric. "Different members worked on different parts of each quilt so it was definitely a group effort," she said. "No two were alike and the different designs were more fun."

Each of the handmade quilts in red, white and blue were tied with grosgrain ribbon and carried a message saying, "Thank you for your service."

The quilters meet weekly and over the years their work has benefited the animal shelter, Rotary and Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. At times, local police carried their quilts in some vehicles for people who might need one. Their quilts have also been offered at the Community Fridge.

Cabin in the Woods, a collaborative project of Volunteers of America Northern New England, provides permanent housing in 21 homes for male and female veterans. There are 16 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom cabins on 11 acres of the Togus grounds.

Shortly before July 4, Bruce and Erin headed to the cabins to distribute quilts to each of the 21 residents.

There, they were met by Auta Main, Cabin in the Woods Community Coordinator. Main said the day Bruce and Erin arrived, they unloaded their quilts and went to every cabin and knocked on the door, giving each veteran a quilt.

"A couple of them were touched to the point of tears," Main said. "People are very generous and we get a lot of things. This touched them deeply and these were really special." When Bruce and Erin learned that Main is also a veteran, they returned a few months later with a quilt made for her, too. "I will never forget it. I have it at home and I treasure it," she added.

"We had no clue how people would react when we gave them a quilt," Erin said. "It was an experience for sure. They were very appreciative."

"It was so rewarding, knocking on each door and giving them the blanket," Bruce added. "It was impressive to deliver them because of the expressions on everyone's faces."

"It meant so much to be able to do that with my Dad," Erin said. "It was a labor of love."

Southport Island quilters welcomes donations of fabric and other quilting supplies. Information about donating to Cabin in the Woods, can be found at Cabin in the Woods.