POST FALLS - Working on a patriotic quilt for a local veteran touched by war, Judy Cooper reflected on why she volunteers for the Quilts of Valor program.

"I don't think of it as being my quilt," the Hayden woman said on Monday during the group's sew day at the American Legion in Post Falls.

"It's the most rewarding thing that I've done. It's very rewarding to us and to the recipients. A lot of the veterans cry when they receive these, and we appreciate what they did."

Veterans are nominated through the nonprofit's state or national levels and 17 local women involved in Quilts of Valor make the gifts of comfort and love for local vets who are nominated.

"Some months we'll give out four or five," said Jerene Kindley, local program coordinator and Post Falls resident.

The group rarely catches up with requests, but that reassures the women that their efforts are desired and appreciated.

"The requests come in spurts," said Kindley, adding that the group is currently working on eight requests. "Sometimes you think you're getting caught up, but then more requests come. We can't meet the demand, but we do the best we can. If there's a request for a World War II veteran, they go to the front of the line (due to their age)."

The women volunteer their time, and the materials are purchased with donations to the group or by the quilters themselves.

"I was entertaining the thought of cutting back because I've been doing this for two years and I'm getting behind on personal things," Kindley said. "Then we made quilts for a daughter and her father who are both disabled veterans and I changed my mind. They are such nice people. The people make it all worthwhile."

Kindley said the quilts were made for Vern Moses, a Vietnam veteran from Coeur d'Alene, and Crystal Johnson, an Iraq veteran from Post Falls.

"They brought a whole new meaning to what I'm doing," Kindley said.

Kindley said she hadn't heard of Quilts of Valor until her husband, Kirk, a veteran of the Vietnam and Korean wars, received one two years ago during the state Disabled American Veterans Convention.

"I've quilted for years and I thought, 'I can do this,'" Kindley said. "It's been a very rewarding experience. I consider it a blessing to honor veterans because they are so humble."

Post Falls' Sue Otis said the quilters volunteer their time for the same reason.

"If it weren't for veterans, we wouldn't be living in this country the way we do," she said.

• Quilts of Valor

Quilts of Valor has made 117,542 quilts nationwide for veterans touched by war since the nonprofit was founded in 2003. For more information on North Idaho Quilts of Valor, or to volunteer to help make quilts, call Jerene Kindley at 777-0474.