The Quilts of Valor Foundation has a mission…to “cover all those services members and veterans touched by war with Wartime Quilts.” According to their website, the foundation is not about politics, it’s about people. Who can argue, it’s a noble cause!
The nationwide organization consists of regional groups of mostly ladies who tirelessly make gorgeous quilts for wounded soldiers and other veterans who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. The quilts are often assembled in hometown fabric shops and the quilter’s homes. The group began making quilts in 2004 and has since distributed more than 37,000 quilts to veterans nationwide.
This month, the Department of Veterans Affairs in Minneapolis has announced that will no longer be accepting quilts from the Quilts of Valor. Initial reports were that the decision was made to turn away the donated quilts because of the potential of bringing blood sucking bed bugs into the VA facility. Understandably, some of the ladies were disappointed to hear of the refusal to accept their blankets and also upset to hear that the VA thought some of their members could cause a bed bug outbreak.
As has been seen with New Jersey bed bug infestations, these bloodsuckers can be lurking in any home or retail establishment. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and because of their tiny size, unless you are looking for them, they often go undetected. New Jersey pest control experts say that it is not out of the norm to think that because of the bed bug resurgence throughout the United States over the past few years that it would not be unheard of for bed bugs to be found in a home or retail establishment in Minnesota.
The Minnesota VA has released a statement that their refusal of the quilts is due to an “overabundant supply” and has said that they will accept donations again once the supply dwindles down. In the meantime, the quilts are in high demand with other veteran groups.
NJ pest control professionals would like to remind everyone that educating yourself about bed bugs is the key to avoiding the bloodsuckers!