MARCH 25, 2026 www.wintertexantimes.com 18 WINTER TEXAN TIMES We Love Our Winter Texans! Thank you for making us your home away from home! Walking Distance to the La Plaza Mall and several restaurants. For Reservations 956-378-4046 www.mcallen-studio6.com 700 Savannah Ave. McAllen, TX Lock In Your Rates For Next Winter Winter Texan 7 Day Plus Special! $327.67 Queen Bed • $375.97 2 Full Size Beds • Nightly, 7 Day Plus Rates Available • Fully Equipped Kitchens • Free Wi-Fi • Outdoor Pool • Small Pet Welcome (with fee) • Guest Laundry Service PLEASE MENTION AD FOR SPECIAL! SPECIAL! 7 Day Plus • 12 Colors Vinyl Siding • Complete Building Supplies • Patio Covers & Carports • Window Awning Parts • Exterior Vinyl Shutters • Phifer Solar Sun Screens • Custom Aluminum Fabrication • MH & RV Accessories The SIDING SOURCE “Lets Build a Deck”....Composite Decking/Vinyl Deck Railing DUTCH LAP VINYL SIDING (12 COLORS IN STOCK) MOBILE HOME SKIRTING (6 COLORS IN STOCK) CLASSIC RIB METAL ROOFING THE SIDING SOURCE 705 BUS. 83 • ALAMO, TX • (956) 787-2721 90 YEARS OF TRUSTED SERVICE Planning a Project? We Give Expert Advice on all Products and Projects Check us out at www.KautschTV.com FREE ESTIMATES VALLEYWIDE DELIVERY QUILTING From pg. 1 seasoned Classy Quilters sit beside the newest quilters, so they don’t fall behind or get discouraged. With Elaine’s mantra that “everyone starts somewhere,” she encourages all quilters to learn and become aware of the many donation opportunities available to park quilters – especially the scholarship quilts, which are presented annually to Alamo high school’s (PSJA) scholarship winners. In addition to the 28 long-arm scholarship quilts that Alamo Palms quilters donated this year, each of the students receives an award of $1,000 (once they’ve been enrolled in a college or tech school program). Some feel these teens may value their quilts more than the money. Elaine says their school counselor told her “These kids [wrap themselves in the quilts and] carry them close. It’s like a prized award. For some, it’s the first thing they’ve ever owned. And they love them!” Another area that many donate their handiwork to is Comfort Quilts, which go to Winter Texans who’ve been hospitalized for extended periods. Newer opportunities for park residents interested in sewing and donating include beds for rescue dogs (led by Annie VanDamm, who completed 100 of them this season). Additional items, such as bibs and baby blankets, are being donated to a doctor’s office to encourage pregnant moms to come in for their scheduled health checks. Quilting for Comfort After a family tragedy, a friend introduced Elaine to quilting. That hobby became such a comfort to her in the first year that she surprised herself and her family by making six quilts – giving those to her siblings – and then making two more for her parents. “They were shocked that I did so much, so fast!” Now, a lot of the quilts she makes go to charity. “If I know the person receiving my quilt, I tend to think about that person and their life while I’m sewing it,” she says. “However, the Scholarship Quilts are different. For them, I’m thinking … ‘I hope the teen likes it, appreciates it.’ I know they will because the scholarship money and quilt put them on the road to a better life … a solid career.” She realizes the twin-sized bed quilts the students get take time. “For me, the most important skill to making any quilt is dedication,” she says. “A bed quilt is not something most of us can make in a day. It can easily take six months. So, it demands dedication to keep it going for all that time while your life is speeding by.” Elaine explains that one of the biggest misconceptions that quilt recipients have is the expense and time invested. It adds up due to longarm charges (by the inch), the quilttop fabric, the batting (filler material), and yards of backing material, along with pricey special thread, patterns and rulers. Each twin-sized quilt can easily cost over $100 for the long-arm quilting alone. Quilting teacher Elaine Snyder organized an early February Quilt Show that attracted hundreds to Alamo Palms Resort. Classy Quilters’ creations, as well as Vintage Quilts and their stories, filled the Main Hall, while hundreds of other items, including Veterans Quilts, Comfort Quilts, dog beds, and baby items were displayed at Tampico Hall.
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