• About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Events
    • Staff and Leadership
    • Join Our Team
    • News & Stories
    • Contact
  • Immigrant Services
    • Who We Serve
    • Resettlement
    • Employment
    • Green Card/Citizenship
    • Education Classes
    • Request Volunteer Support
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer With Us
    • Volunteer Resources
    • Regional Sites
    • Trainings
  • Get Involved
    • Community Support
    • Rent To Refugees
    • Hire Immigrant Neighbors
    • Advocate
    • Give Items
  • Donate
Arrive Ministries Arrive Ministries Arrive Ministries
office@arriveministries.org 612-798-4332
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Events
    • Staff and Leadership
    • Join Our Team
    • News & Stories
    • Contact
  • Immigrant Services
    • Who We Serve
    • Resettlement
    • Employment
    • Green Card/Citizenship
    • Education Classes
    • Request Volunteer Support
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer With Us
    • Volunteer Resources
    • Regional Sites
    • Trainings
  • Get Involved
    • Community Support
    • Rent To Refugees
    • Hire Immigrant Neighbors
    • Advocate
    • Give Items
  • Donate

Volunteers Stitching Warmth for Thousands of Refugees

February 4, 2016
2,000 Quilts and Counting

If you ask Carol Hagstrom why she has sewn more than 2,000 quilts for refugees resettling in Minnesota, her answer is very matter-of-fact.

Marty and Carol

Marty (L) and Carol (R)

“I just want to take care of people and this is something I can do,” said Carol.

Even though Carol believes God has given her the “gift of helps” because she can’t sit still for too long; Carol seeks no honor for making and donating around 140 quilts for Arrive Ministries each year.

“Any igaboo could make them, I just sew up and down, up and down. It doesn’t take any big skill, Alma Turney is the lady who designs the quilts so beautifully,” said Carol, who is masterful at deflecting any attention from herself.

A Devoted Duo

Carol and Alma have been working in partnership for    more than a decade. 87-year-old Alma traces and cuts out each square by hand, and Carol sews the quilts, and ties the yarn with the help of her sister and husband, Vic.

Evie Swenson, Alma Turney, Carol Hagstrom, Marty Rittman

(L-R) Evie Swenson, Alma Turney, Carol Hagstrom and Marty Rittman

“Alma is a teeny, tiny lady who you’d think a wind would blow her away. But she loves the Lord in a big way,” said Carol. And it’s their shared love of the Lord and people that motivates Alma and Carol to keep making quilts and donating them to Arrive Ministries.

Alma is so fast, that Carol has a backlog of 130 quilts ready to be sewn.

“Alma says she is going to keep me busy long after she dies. Alma’s husband believes after she suffered some recent health ailments, she is still alive today to keep designing these quilts,” said Carol.

Decades of Loving Refugees

Carol’s heart for refugees started 25 years ago while living in Bemidji, when she helped refugees find housing, dishes, beds and clothes for themselves and their families. Now that she and her husband live in Maple Grove, they often still see some of the first refugees she helped resettled.

Tadessa helping tie

A Refugee Friend Helping Carol Tie Quilts

The first man Carol helped resettle in Bemidji, moved down to the Twin Cities, and brought over a woman from Ethiopia to marry; they now have four children who love and adore Carol and Vic.

“We have four Eritrean “grandchildren.” They call us grandma and grandpa, because they don’t have any grandparents here in America,” said Carol.

“They are doing really well. Both the husband and wife work so hard. We try to give them some positive experiences with Christians, since the kids aren’t going to Sunday school. They are a wonderful presence for us,” said Carol.

Showing the Love of Jesus

Carol and Vic have also volunteered with Arrive Ministries’ Somali Adult Literacy Training (SALT) program in the past, teaching English to Somali kids in Hopkins. The Hagstroms attend Maple Ridge Church, and strongly believe in showing the love of Jesus through their interactions with refugees.

SANY0002

Beautiful Quilt Designed by Alma, Sewn by Carol

“When Vic and I pray together in the morning, I pray for the refugees that they’ll realize they are loved and cared for. I pray that they’ll wonder why they are being taken care of, and what motivates people to do this,” she said. “I know they are not seeing this generosity in their country. I pray that they do some investigating about why people care for them in this way.”

Related Posts

Stories

Fulfilling a Promise Made as a Child

March 28, 2023 By Kate Shermer
Afghanistan, Good Neighbor, Stories

Afghan Family Finds Freedom to Dream

March 6, 2023 By Kate Shermer
Employment, Stories

Hiring Refugees Works

March 3, 2023 By Kate Shermer

Stay Connected

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Arrive Ministries, 1515 E. 66th St., Richfield, MN, 55423, http://arriveministries.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Connect with us:

Arrive Ministries is a refugee resettlement agency providing essential services and practical assistance to refugees and immigrants to advance self-sufficiency. We mobilize volunteers, in partnership with local churches, to extend love and friendship to our new neighbors to promote thriving in a new homeland.

About Us

Contact Info

1515 East 66th Street, Richfield MN 55423

612-798-4332

office@arriveministries.org

Who We Are

Immigrant Services

Volunteer

Community Support

Donate

Copyright © 2023 • All Rights Reserved  • Powered by Malley Design

Your Cart (0)

Your cart is empty Continue Shopping

Sign in