Give Back Quilt Event
Laughter, peace, and playfulness filled the room on Division Road in Bend, Oregon, that serves three very different purposes. Most of the time, it’s a chapel for daily devotions. Lately, it’s been a pre-Christmas workshop — a lively craft space buzzing with sewing machines, colorful fabric, gingerbread, icing, candies and jovial conversation. By night, it transforms into a bunkroom for men rebuilding their lives at Shepherd’s House Men’s Recovery Center. Shepherd’s House is part of a broader network of recovery and support facilities serving men and women in Bend and Redmond. At the heart of this room is the Giveback Quilt Project, administered by Cat Wallace, whose warmth and humor weave both fabric and people into something beautiful. “It’s like herding cats,” Cat jokes as she sorts quilt patches alongside residents focused intently on their sewing machines.
Cat’s journey to Shepherd’s House is deeply personal. She arrived in Bend in 2020 seeking safety and healing after leaving Southern California. What began as volunteering quickly turned into a paid role, and she is now the men’s program administrator. Her goal is to organize regular programs that reintroduce playfulness and finding a purpose in life again for residents. “I came in through the back door,” Cat says quietly. “I needed a lot of healing in my heart and soul.” That healing now radiates outward through projects like the Giveback Quilt. This holiday season, residents designed and stitched quilt squares assembled into a single quilt — a heartfelt gift for longtime volunteer Diane Miles, who is returning to the United Kingdom after five years of service.
The quilt tells a story. Its newsprint-patterned backing nods to Diane’s English roots and the tradition of wrapping fish and chips in newspaper. She served meals several days a week and is a beloved fixture at Shepherd’s House. For the men sewing the quilt, the project is about more than fabric — it’s about community. One resident spent more than 14 years in prison. Another explains, “If it weren’t for this place, I’d probably be bouncing between the Lighthouse, addiction on the street, or jail.” Ron, sober for nine months, shares how a cancer diagnosis led to relapse, foreclosure, and the loss of his marriage. Entering the recovery program changed everything.
“This place makes me accountable,” he says. “My goal is to show my kids I have a purpose again.” Residents also joined a gingerbread house competition, adding holiday fun to serious healing work. Chad earned “Most Detailed,” while another resident, Brandon’s “Most Unique” creation was gifted to Nancy P’s Bakery. The houses were delivered to local supporters including the Franklin Shelter, Albertson’s, Whole Foods and Ronald McDonald House. For the men at Shepherd’s House, giving back is transformative. “This quilt lets us give something back that lasts,” a resident shared. “A reminder that we were here, that we care.” “This quilt is 100 percent me,” Diane said, smiling. At the presentation, her eyes welled with tears as she thanked the residents and staff. “One of the greatest joys of my life has been coming here to work alongside all of you,” she said. “Thank you. It’s been an absolute pleasure.” As the stitches of the quilt came together, so did lives—woven with accountability, creativity, hope, and love. At Shepherd’s House, recovery isn’t just about staying sober. Sometimes, it begins with a needle and thread, a bit of gingerbread, and the belief that everyone has something meaningful to give.
Wally Hofmann is a freelance journalist and lives in Bend. He was editor of the Mammoth Times weekly newspaper from 1987 to 2004.
