It is often said that Lutheran World Relief’s quilters and kit makers are the heart of our organization. It’s not simply a saying. If anything, it’s an understatement. Words often fall short when trying to capture the steadfast and selfless dedication of our quilters and kit makers and their Christ-like service to others.
Take Charlotte Kirkegaard.
Charlotte recently celebrated her 94th birthday — a milestone that marks not only her incredible life but also her remarkable legacy of service. For over two decades, Charlotte has been a cornerstone of the quilting ministry at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage, Iowa.
A Life Stitched with Purpose
As a young teacher, Charlotte used her first paycheck to buy a sewing machine. She turned her passion into purpose when she began making LWR Quilts.
Charlotte’s love for sewing began at the age of eight, inspired by her seamstress grandmother. Over the years, her sewing skills blossomed into a successful career and lifelong passion. Even early on, her dedication was clear. In one particularly busy season, she made 17 wedding dresses in a matter of months!
Quilting for Lutheran World Relief
She began quilting in the 1960s, when her late husband, Rev. Anton Kirkegaard, served as a pastor in Monticello, Iowa. After moving to Osage, the congregation’s quilting group invited Charlotte to join them in making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She agreed and soon challenged the group to make 100 quilts in one month. They met their goal, igniting a fire in Charlotte that burned brightly for decades.
Her basement became a bustling “quilt factory,” complete with sewing machines, a serger, and tables built to exact specifications. At her "peak," Charlotte made a quilt or more every day. Her family estimates she’s made some 4,000 quilts for LWR.
Around town, Charlotte’s commitment inspires others. Fabric donations often appear on her doorstep, at the local coffee shop or thrift store. “People in town even put it in my garage!” her daughter Sarah Campbell says.
If she ever runs low — it’s happened a time or two — Charlotte relies on her faith. “I pray for fabric.”
“It always shows up,” Sarah chimes in. “It starts piling in. It’s amazing.”
Love That Travels the Distance
Charlotte examines a box of fabric. The entire community collects it for her LWR quilts.
Like all LWR quilts, Charlotte’s are more than just fabric and thread; they are tangible reminders of God’s love. In 2025 alone, nearly 320,000 quilts were delivered to 15 countries, including the U.S., embracing neighbors displaced by violence and disaster, and extending love to the hardest-to-reach places.
“I think about how these go to so many places people will never travel to,” Charlotte says. “How some people don’t have anything else. I don’t have a clue where they are going, but I do know people need them. There’s a lot of people that work together for this amazing thing. It makes a difference.”
A Family and Community Inspired
Charlotte stands in front of quilts ready for blessing at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
Charlotte’s passion has not only impacted those who receive her quilts but also her family and larger community. Sarah describes her mother as an “energizer bunny” whose determination has challenged others to find their own ways to make a difference.
“It inspires us and also has made a huge difference in Mom’s longevity and quality of life,” Sarah says. “She has a purpose that is amazing and keeps us all going.”
Grandson Simon Campbell knows that because quilting for LWR has been such a huge part of her life, Charlotte’s recent decision to retire was a significant one.
“She has loved investing and giving to this ministry, and sending love through these quilts around the world in Jesus' name,” he says. Her work, he continues, has been a reminder to their entire family to live with intention and compassion.
The members of Our Savior’s Lutheran have also been deeply influenced by Charlotte. Joanne Hyland, the Women of the ELCA’s (WELCA) Stewardship Chair at Our Savior’s, has worked with Charlotte for some 15 years.
“Charlotte is a go-getter,” WELCA Stewardship Chair Joanne Hyland says. “She is very enthusiastic about our quilting mission. She’s one-of-a-kind.”
During COVID, the group couldn’t meet in person. Joanne would drop off the group’s quilt tops in Charlotte’s garage, and then Charlotte would sew the quilts.
"When I called her to tell her I was coming one day,” Joanne says. “She told me to bring the quilts, and I'll meet you in the driveway. We’ll have coffee and cookies and visit awhile. It’s one of my fondest memories of Charlotte.”
While Joanne knows the quilting ministry won’t match Charlotte's prolific output, they are committed to continuing the work. Her custom tables will be donated to the church’s new quilt room, a space inspired by her service.
Ken Wendt has served as the custodian at Our Savior’s for more than 40 years, and has known Charlotte for at least 20 of those.
Charlotte is a very special lady,” he says. “And humble. “She is an artist of recycling; no fabric ever goes to waste. And there’s nothing she couldn’t do with a needle and thread. I gave her a challenge once to find out how much thread she used. She figured out she uses 32 miles of thread each year, putting together quilts!
The Global Reach of LWR Quilts
To truly appreciate the significance of Charlotte’s work, consider how quilts impact our neighbors in need:
- In a Democratic Republic of Congo refugee camp, quilts provided warmth during cold nights and a sense of security to neighbors in uncertain times when no one else could reach them.
- After the hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, wildfire and other disasters in the U.S., quilts offered comfort, warmth and hope to families who lost everything, reminding them that they were not alone.
- In Tanzania, LWR quilts prevent childhood stunting by providing warmth, conserving energy for growth instead of body heat. This supports development and combats chronic malnutrition in cold regions, as shared by health workers.
Each quilt tells a story of hope and resilience, stitched together by hands like Charlotte’s.
Gratitude for a Life of Purpose
As Charlotte steps back, she looks forward to spending more time with her family, especially her grand and great-grandchildren.
“And there are a couple of things I might want to do for myself,” she says.
Charlotte reminds us that even the simplest acts, when done with love, have profound ripple effects for our neighbors — whether down the street or across the globe.
Thank you, Charlotte — and all our quilters and kit makers — for your unwavering dedication and for showing us what it means to live a life of purpose.
How you can continue Charlotte’s impact of love:
- The Quilt & Kit Shipping Fund is an excellent way to support the journey of quilts made by compassionate hearts like Charlotte, and get your congregations involved. You can also honor or recognize a loved one through our Good Samaritan Quilt Plaza and become part of the “Many Trips Around the World” quilt pattern in Baltimore. Get more information and donate online here.
- When disaster strikes, our neighbors need our love — immediately. Consider becoming a Faithful Neighbor! The sustaining love of Faithful Neighbors, our monthly donors, allows us to respond quicker in times of immediate crisis. But it also allows us to stay longer, helping neighbors build back stronger and more resilient to future crises.