Last night’s Good Sort is a Hawke’s Bay woman who felt the impact of survivor’s guilt from Cyclone Gabrielle and decided to do something about it – by making quilts.
Nine people were killed when Cyclone Gabrielle tore through the East Coast last February. The natural disaster also left many displaced after it caused $1 billion in damages.
“We didn’t really have much problem with us, so it’s our way of helping out others and making us feel better as well,” Margaret Wallace explained.
Rounding up a group of four other women feeling the effects of guilt, they began to make quilts.
“I always feel that a quilt is something of comfort, so I thought ‘right, we’ll make some quilts and donate them to people, at least they’ll be warm’,” she said.
In 18 months, the group have made close to 200 quilts.
The quilts go to those left homeless after the cyclone and in return, they get cards on the wall and the odd photos.
Wallace said knowing they are helping their community when it needs it most is more than enough.
“I’m not a good baker, so better to be sewing.”
