Each donated item for the Quilt Auction must have its own Item Donation Form filled out! You can download the form by clicking the button above. Please print or copy as many forms as you need!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2025
We are already accepting items for the 2025 Ewalu Quilt Auction! Donations of quilts and hand-crafted items are due to camp by Friday, August 22. (Even sooner is greatly appreciated!)
The 2025 Ewalu Quilt Auction will have its live event on Saturday, Sept. 20. The Online Auction will begin Monday, Sept. 15, and end Sunday, Sept. 21.
About Ewalu’s Quilt Auction
Held annually for more than 35 years with the help and support of congregations, quilters, and volunteers, more than 300 quilts are donated to the camp, plus numerous hand-crafted items are given to raise additional funds. These funds support projects and capital improvements that the camp cannot achieve through the annual operating budget.
Join us for live music, a short worship service, and more than 300 quilts and quality hand-crafted items displayed for review (NOTE: Due to the renovation of Cedar Lodge beginning in August, we are working on an alternate plan to display quilts and items that will be up for bids in the Online Auction.) A free-will lunch is served at noon, and the live auction starts at 1:00 p.m. It is a day to celebrate and support the incredible ministry that occurs at Camp Ewalu!
Supporting This Event
This event would not be possible without the generosity of quilters and crafters throughout eastern Iowa. Additional support comes through congregations, quilt/fabric shops, Thrivent Financial grants, local businesses and organizations in areas like In-lieu-of-quilt gifts, advertising, event supplies, and more!
Quilters & Crafters: Please consider making a quilt or item for the auction. To provide variety and interest in the auction, we also auction other hand-made items, especially wooden items such as wooden bowls. Though over 300 items are donated for the auction, we can only put about 120 to 130 items in the live auction. All other items are either put up for bids in the Online Auction (including top-quality items!), or priced and sold in the “Country Store” on the day of the live auction: Sept. 20, 2025. If you are unable to donate a completed item, we also accept quilt tops, squares, pieces, batting, and other quilt or craft supplies for the Country Store.
In lieu of quilts: If you are unable to donate a quilt or craft item, there are still ways to help! You can make a monetary gift in lieu of donating an item; donate baked goods, plants and fresh produce for the food stand; or volunteer to demonstrate your craft trade at the event. We also rely on volunteers for operating the food stand and Country Store.
THANK YOU!
There’s an amazing story unfolding here through the ministry of Camp Ewalu. It’s the story of God’s love made transparent through Christ and demonstrated through the generosity of many supporters like you. Thank you for the many creative ways that you support this ministry, which reaches thousands of people each year through our summer camp program and retreat hosting. We look forward to working with you as we come together for this year’s Quilt Auction!
Results from the 2024 Quilt Auction
Our 2024 Online and Live Auctions raised $56,122.81 in net proceeds, with more than 300 quilts and hand-crafted items donated to the event. Thank you to all the volunteers, item donors, and bidders who make this annual fundraiser so successful in support of the ministry of Ewalu!
Congratulations to this year’s People’s Choice Award winners!
Live Auction 1st Place: Item #112, Ewalu Remembrance quilt, donated by Juanita and Gary Maiers of Coal Valley, IL (winning bid: $4,200)
Live Auction 2nd Place: Item #92, Lakeside quilt, donated by Mary Lou Billhorn of Readlyn, IA (winning bid: $4,200)
Live Auction 3rd Place: Item #81, Journeys quilt, donated by Jeri and Debbie Watson of Arlington, IA (winning bid: $4,200)
Online People’s Choice Winner: Item #245, Chopsticks quilt, donated by Diane Schilling of Guttenberg, IA (winning bid: $1,550)
What is happening with Bremwood quilt donations?
For many years, about 40 quilts annually were purchased and then donated to Bremwood, a Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI) youth treatment facility in Waverly. Though the residential youth treatment program has closed at Bremwood, LSI still uses quilts for its Early Childhood Services and Refugee Services programs in Waterloo and across Iowa. In 2024, 20+ quilts were donated from the auction and taken to the LSI office in Waterloo and distributed as needed among these two programs.
LSI Early Childhood Services: Becoming a new parent can be overwhelming. But LSI Early Childhood Services walk beside Iowa parents of young children every step of the way. Programs include home visits, support groups for expecting parents, and more.
LSI Immigrant and Refugee Community Services: LSI has been welcoming refugees to Iowa since WWII. Programming includes education, family services, and economic development programs to help refugees get started on their path to citizenship and building a new life in Iowa. Quilts are given to each family.
PHOTOS FROM 2024 LIVE AUCTION
CONTACT
Questions about the Ewalu Quilt Auction can be directed to Steph Boeding, steph@ewalu.org