By May Hunter, For Iron County Today
Cedar City Councilman Scott Phillips had an idea for the America 250 quilts. It all started with a notion he had been thinking about for several months. As he looked at all the celebrations that are going on and being planned for America’s 250th Birthday Celebration, he began to wonder: What are we doing for young families and young children? He wanted to create a legacy that would live on long after this special birthday celebration period was over.
While attending a convention in Salt Lake City, Scott heard a young woman speak about being a bicentennial baby, and she was now 50 years old. That moment got Scott thinking: What can we do for Cedar City? How could we get our local hospital involved in this celebration, and what can live beyond 2026?
Scott decided that creating an America 250 quilt for every child born at Cedar City Hospital in 2026 would be a wonderful idea. However, he would need to contract a company, guild, or group willing to take on the task of making the quilts. After meeting with the Cedar Chest Quilt Guild and their members, as well as Cedar City Hospital administration to see if they would accept such a gift, the idea was officially born. Scott met with Jamison Robinett and Rachelle Hughes at the hospital and then followed up with the quilt guild.
Originally, Scott estimated that 100–200 quilts would need to be made that year. However, the hospital informed him they would need 800 to 900 quilts, as over 800 babies were born at Cedar City Hospital in 2025. That number initially seemed overwhelming. Scott returned to the quilt guild to see if they had the strength and manpower to take on such a project. About a week later, the guild responded enthusiastically, saying they were behind the idea 100%.
The guild has been reaching out to friends and supporters and is having special labels made for all the quilts. Scott shared that he hopes these quilts will become legacy pieces and keepsakes for families so that 50 years from now, those children will still have their quilts as a reminder of America’s 250th birthday.
The Cedar Chest Quilt Guild made their first delivery of 18 quilts to Cedar City Hospital on December 30, and the project will continue from there.
Anyone interested in helping with this project is encouraged to do so. The Cedar Chest Quilt Guild gladly accepts donations of fabric or monetary contributions. Volunteers willing to help make quilts are also welcome. Please contact Liz Jacomb at [email protected] or call 435-531-3170 to receive guidelines for making the quilts. Completed quilts should be returned to Liz so labels can be sewn on.