A Coronado quilting group purchased eight sewing machines and supplies for refugee families in San Diego after learning that eight households were on a waiting list for one.

The Hot Bobbins, a group that has met monthly at the Spreckels Center for four years, pooled funds for the machines after founding member Sue Gillingham spotted a request from the nonprofit Helping Empower Community Refugees on Facebook, according to the Coronado Eagle & Journal.

Gillingham had already donated one machine on her own after seeing the need at the group's spring retreat. When she asked how many families were still waiting, the answer was eight. She brought the request to the quilters, and they covered the cost of all eight machines plus sewing notions.

At the group's August retreat, Gillingham invited Jill Galante, whom the Eagle & Journal identified as HECR's founder, to speak about the nonprofit's work. Galante described how she first got involved about a decade ago when she helped a family of 10 living in a two-bedroom apartment.

They shared a single towel for bathing, dishes and cleaning. She cleaned out her own linen closet to help.

HECR, formerly Helping El Cajon Refugees, is an all-volunteer nonprofit that has helped more than 1,500 families since January 2022, according to the organization's website. The group runs weekly distributions of food, toiletries and household goods at a local church and furnishes apartments for new arrivals.

Galante also invited Afghan refugee Naim Azimi, who arrived in San Diego in 2024, to address the quilters. Azimi and his wife fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control in 2021. Both had worked with the U.S. government and were targeted.

Numerous family members had been killed.

After three years in Pakistan, the couple obtained visas and entered the United States. Azimi described the difficulties of starting over without belongings, without English and without a credit history to rent an apartment.

Both Azimi and Galante stressed that sewing is central to Afghan women's culture. "To have a sewing machine and the ability to create items for their home and family is a huge lift to their spirits," they told the group.

Galante said refugee families she works with want to learn English, pursue education and contribute to their new country. She said they are particularly impressed with the quality of public schools available to their children.

The Hot Bobbins are open to any Coronado resident interested in quilting. The Spreckels Center, at 1019 Seventh St., also offers a beginner machine piecing and quilting class running Fridays through Oct. 23, 1–4 p.m. Registration is available at coronado.ca.us/civicrec or by calling 619-522-7343.