According to this article from last October, they have a capacity for roughly 240-250 boys "from across the nation who have made poor choices, been in trouble with the law or simply had nowhere else to go."
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Forest City Summit · The Britt News-TribuneA need that will never end: Wrapped in Love is deemed a huge successBy Megan VerHelst, Editor
Story created Oct 01, 2009 - 16:04:41 CDT.Nine months ago, with very few people on board, the employees of Creative Quilts and More in Britt weren't sure what to expect when they started Wrapped in Love. All employee Mary Gouge and owner Kay Schlichting knew was that they needed to find a way to show support to the boys living at Woodward Academy.
People are now stepping up in masses from all over north Iowa to help with the project-a project that provides quilts to boys between the ages of 12 and 18 living at the academy in Woodward-and Gouge is considering it a huge success.
"We had nothing when we first started," Gouge said. "But now, things are continually growing."
In August, Wrapped in Love delivered 31 handmade quilts to the facility that houses boys from across the nation who have made poor choices, been in trouble with the law or simply had nowhere else to go. It was eight months worth of work made worth it, Gouge said.
"To me, that was a success point-actually having concrete, tangible quilts," she said. "While we were there, one boy even told us it was nice to have someone think about them as more than juvenile delinquents."
Gouge, who came up with the idea after visiting the son of a friend staying at Woodward Academy, knew last year something had to be done for the boys staying at the academy.
After visiting one of the eight Woodward dorms that housed the boys, Gouge described the buildings as old and drafty. The boys living there were provided with only a sheet and a thin blanket.
She said she also knew something had to be done because many of the boys residing at the academy had little to no family support.
"I decided during the course of my visits that we live in a very disposable society," Gouge said. "The boys there just don't have the family support system they need to be successful."
Gouge returned to Britt and shared the idea with Schlichting. She, as well as Woodward Academy, was receptive to the idea. At first, it took awhile to get others to donate their time to the cause.
"It took awhile to start, especially when you're working with volunteers," Gouge said. "You still have to make a living."
But as word spread around the area, so did interest in the project. Wrapped in Love now boasts volunteer quilters from towns such as Clarion, Belmond and Mason City. The Clear Lake Area Quilters Guild has even signed on to donate their time to the project. Many individuals have shown their support by donating items such as batting and fabric.
Woodward Academy has eight dorms that house approximately 31 boys in each. With the completion of the first round of quilts in August, Gouge, Schlichting and the other volunteers will move on to providing quilts for the next dorm.
Anyone interested in helping is welcome to contact Gouge or Schlichting at Creative Quilts and More.
The actual moment she was able to give the boys their quilts has been one of the most rewarding moments for Gouge.
"I don't think I can describe the look on their faces," Gouge said. "They just couldn't believe they got to keep them."
Considering Woodward Academy houses new residents on a continual basis, Gouge said Wrapped in Love isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"I have been told by many people that if these boys had something like this in the past, it might have made a huge difference," Gouge said. "As long as there is a need, there will never be an end."
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