The building housing Crazy Quilt, an organization dedicated to helping low and fixed income residents in the Jellico area, was totally destroyed by a fire on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002 around 7 p.m.
The Crazy Quilt, started by Catholic Sister Yvonne Nelson, has served Campbell County residents over the years, providing emergency assistance, food, shelter and an outlet for local artisans to display and sell Appalachian crafts.
Many of us from the Jellico area have either been helped by the Crazy Quilt or know someone who has. I (Lisa Casey, Webmaster of Netlink 2000, Inc.) received the following letter in postal mail today and thought I would publish it on this web site in the hopes that it might help the Crazy Quilt get more donations to rebuild:
Dear Friend of Crazy Quilt,
I am contacting you to inform everyone that the Crazy Quilt Friendship Center was destroyed by fire on Wednesday November 13th. The fire happened in the evening and no one was hurt. However, everything was lost. We did have some insurance but not enough to replace everything that was burned. We also lost most all our contacts and addresses. Staff were able to obtain part of our mailing list from the lady who had set up our mailing list in the beginning. All other names were destroyed. We are mailing this to the names that we have and if someone you know didn't receive this letter we no longer have their name. They can send it to us and we will put it on the list. (Note from Netlink webmaster: If you think your name should have been on the Crazy Quilts mailing list and you did not receive a copy of this letter please send your contact info to the Crazy Quilt at the address below).
The Board of Directors met on the following Saturday and we will rebuild the center. We are asking that no clothing items be sent to us until after the first of the year, for we have no where to store anything at this time. We have rented the small Deli across the street from the Center temporary so we can still have the Annual Christmas Party. That is scheduled for Dec. 14th.
Any monetary donations can be sent to the same address:
Crazy Quilt Friendship Center
2967 Highway 297
Newcomb, TN 37819
and on the memo line put for building/emergency fund. An account has been set up at the First Volunteer Bank in Jellico, and any donations will be added to that account.
Our staff and board appreciate your prayers and support.
