A Common Thread
Mary Poirier, like many of the Sisters of the Cloth, has a long and storied history with both the art of quilting and Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp. Both of Mary’s children were involved with Fortune Lake, and their time here inspired a relationship with the organization long after her kids grew into adulthood. Even while still working at her quilt shop, Country Garden Quilts & More, she found ways to support Fortune Lake through her work. When Mary and her husband decided it was time to close their shop, the free time she gained allowed her to join the Sisters of the Cloth.
The Sisters of the Cloth are a group of women who come together throughout the year with a common purpose: to prepare for our annual Fall Fest. While many of them are crafters and makers of all kinds, their common thread is quilting. Their time spent at Fortune Lake, and a great deal of their time at home, is spent making beautiful creations to be auctioned off and sold at the event. Each “sister” found her way to the group in a unique way. What has formed is a welcoming and supportive community that finds joy in the work they do to support Fortune Lake, as well as the time spent in each other’s presence. The group often shares ideas, gives advice, and creates together.
This sense of community that Mary feels does not disappear when the women leave camp. The Sisters of the Cloth have formed bonds with one another that create space for life updates, thought sharing, and prayer requests. While there is great diversity in the personalities of the group, their common goal brings them together in a unique way. Each time they arrive at camp for their quilting bees, they are reminded of why they get together: They are bound together by their love for camp and the Christ-driven mission of Fortune Lake.
Each of the women in the group donate copious amounts of time, materials, and labor to the cause at camp, but Fortune Lake is just one facet of their community service. Many of them are creating quilts for multiple other organizations as well, a remarkable feat given the time intensity of the craft. According to Mary, it makes sense that she would use her talents to help other people, and it is obvious by the amount of time and work donated that the other sisters feel the same.
The 2024 auction saw 105 quilts, many of which were crafted by the Sisters of the Cloth. In total, Fall Fest raised $29,169! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED IN ANY WAY! It is through the work of the Sisters of the Cloth that this event is possible. These women are already thinking about next year. Mary extends an invitation to any quilters and crafters out there who might be interested in joining the group. It is, after all, a close knit, or quilted, corner of the wider Fortune Lake community we all hold dear.
Save the date: October 4 Fall Fest 2025
Join the Impact
There are many meaningful ways to engage in supporting Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp!
