BRIDGER VALLEY —What started as a 4-H service project years ago has mushroomed into a huge quilting party for Bridger Valley as quilters across the Valley take up their needles and quilt.

This year, Make A Child Smile program in Bridger Valley celebrated its 20^th anniversary and the creation of over 350 quilts to be used in the program. When the quilters were asked about the future, their loud response was to “Keep Going,” giving organizer Ruth Rees the answer of what to expect next year and beyond.

Rees had posted prior to the event, “We are getting a lot of awesome quilts, just think of the ‘sunshine’ this brings to a lot of struggling kids. All quilts are delivered to Primary Children’s Hospital. We have all kinds of quilts tied, pieced, and small fleece throws. All are needed, and any skill level can participate.”

And participate, the Valley did producing more quilts this year than ever before.

This year’s exhibit and program was held at the Heritage Barn in Lyman Tuesday night. Quilts were hung along the walls of the upper floor, stacked on tables and displayed on the stairwell.

In relating how the program got started, Rees had questioned 4-H years ago and said there wasn’t any service projects for 4-H members. It was decided at that time, the members could make quilts and then donate them to the hospital. Years later and hundreds of quilts later, the Bridger Valley group has endeared itself to the hospital and many of the patients and parents who have used the hospital, which was demonstrated in a short video provided by Primary Childrens. In fact, Rees told the story of one family who, when they left the hospital, the only thing they took home was the quilt their child had received. Sad, and emotional, but sometimes these things happen. Doesn’t make it easier and doesn’t seem fair. The quilts from this year’s event will also be delivered to Primary Childrens. Rees said they divide the quilts up for different parts of the hospital and then the hospital distributes the quilts to patients.