From left, Kim Leroy and Karen Freeman hold bags of quilts to donate. Submitted Photo

The residents of the Colonial Gardens Guest Home senior living community in Penn Township got a special surprise on Thursday, Aug. 29, when Karen Freeman came by to donate 26 quilts she put together earlier this year while she was vacationing in Florida.

All 26 quilts are made with red, white and blue fabric, and each one is made with a different design. They were backed and machine-sewed once Freeman returned to Pennsylvania in June.

The initial inspiration came last year, when Freeman put together three quilts for her friend for a quilt show that was being held at a church in Evans City, including a Barbie-themed quilt. Afterward, two of the three were donated to the Colonial Gardens. This led Freeman to put together quilts for the remaining beds at the senior living community.

“I thought, two quilts for 26 guys is not going to be enough,” Freeman said. “They all need one.”

Freeman has also donated quilts to the Mars Home for Youth, Quilts of Valor and the Victims Outreach Intervention Center, among others.

From left, Kim Leroy, Karen Freeman and Tom Smith hold bags of quilts to donate. Submitted Photo

Tom Smith helps carry bags of quilts to donate. Submitted Photo