The meaning of the Off Target, A Million Broken Hearts quilt is to bring awareness that people are losing their lives to gun violence. I made these quilts because I was witnessing the bravery and anguish the students were experiencing after the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. It brought tears to my eyes, not only because of yet another senseless shooting, but because these brave kids were standing up against gun violence. No one can bring back the kids who were lost in these school shootings, but making people aware of the need for change can go a long way in the fight for lives. https://marchforourlives.com/
The design of this quilt is made with 17 red hearts on white backgrounds. The seventeen hearts represent those who lost their lives at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14th, 2018. The white background represents innocence. The hearts also represent Valentine’s Day, which was the date of the Florida school shooting.
The saying, Each Life that is Ended Through Gun Violence, Suicide, or Accidental Death, Leaves Behind A Million Broken Hearts. Is used on a white background with black lettering and small red hearts. The first quilt I made was with counted cross stitch.
I am making as many quilts as I can by myself, but it’s an enormous task for one person.
I have six quilts completed now. At this point, I am hiring someone to embroider the saying by machine. I have two more quilts at different stages that will be finished soon.
There is no charge for A Million Broken Hearts Quilt.
I am willing to email a pattern for the Off Target, A Million Broken Hearts quilt to anyone who has the quilting skills, belongs to a quilt guild and would like to help bring comfort to the loved ones who are left behind when a life has been taken soon. Again, this is not for profit and I don’t want to give my pattern or idea to anyone who wishes to sell the finished product.
With my Off Target, A Million Broken Hearts Quilts I hope to donate a quilt to each of the schools that experienced a tragic school shooting.
I contacted the principal of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, last year. I sent a copy of my book, Off Target, the Path You Choose #1. I also sent a letter letting the principal know about my quilt project and also the monument project. https://jillvanderwood.com/book-blogs/off-target-the-path-you-choose/off-target-1000000-a-million-broken-hearts/ I asked if the high school students would be interested in helping me put up monuments in their community. I have not heard back from the school.
Sometimes kids don’t think their voices are heard while speaking up for a good cause.
I have news for you, it’s also hard for a grandmother from Idaho to have her voice heard. We can only keep trying. If the voices are loud enough demanding change and we keep speaking up, someone is bound to hear us!
Part Two of Off Target, A Million Broken Hearts is to erect monuments in cities around the country.
The first Off Target, A Million Broken Hearts monument is being planned for the city of Malad, Idaho. The design has been approved by the city counsel and fundraising is underway. The goal is to dedicate this monument in the Malad City Cemetery on Memorial Day, 2020. This is also planned to bring awareness of violence, suicide or accidental death. Each year Malad City Idaho participates in the annul Suicide Walk for awareness. Around 100 people come out to participate in this walk of remembrance of loved ones. http://www.oneidacountyhospital.com/calendar/view_event.php?id=2678695&category=0&sub=Static https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
