A new, homemade quilt can make a big difference for a student sleeping in their car, or a family transitioning out of homelessness who still needs furniture.

“When a kid or an adult gets a quilt, it’s like they’re wrapped in love,” said Kim Bunch, the Foster/Homeless Liaison for Ferndale School District. “It’s a very tangible show of care.”

Luckily, Whatcom County has Betty Ross. The 95-year-old Lynden resident has used her love of sewing to benefit those in need for decades, making about 8,000 quilts over the past 20 years and donating them to local schools and nonprofits.

“She is just such a little jewel,” Bunch said of Ross.

Ross said she began learning to sew as a child from her mother while living in Pierce County during the Great Depression.

“Times were very hard, so she made everything we needed, like quilts out of old clothes that couldn’t be worn anymore,” she said.

Ross began sewing quilts for donation about 45 years ago, for family and friends who were making aid trips to Africa and Eastern Europe. Eventually, she began sewing and donating to Whatcom County organizations like school districts, food banks and nonprofits like Lydia’s House, which serves women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Ross doesn’t make these quilts by herself. Her friends Dooris Roosma, Irene Beld and Gail DeGroot help pick up materials and piece together parts of the quilts. Ross takes all the pieces and sews them together to make the final product.

Ross’ family also helps by driving her to the store for supplies or providing funding, she said.

“I tell my kids, ‘Don’t give me any birthday presents – just give me money, and I’ll buy fleece,’” she said with a chuckle.

After decades of sewing and donating, Ross has no plans to stop any time soon.

“I expect to do this until I’m 100!” she said.