Caption: Some of the members of Just Friends were pictured at a recent meeting. They are (front row, seated, from left) Barb Dalton, Dottie Abendroth, Mary Jo Kellogg, Marilyn Cox, Jane Dawson, Judy Allen; (back row) Beth Lycke, Annette Miller, Annette Dalthorp, Linda Snavely, Laurie McCracken, Joan Gelder, Carole Voss, Laurie Tufford, and Jody Sanders.
It was May 1974 when two Nevada ladies, Mary Jo Kellogg and Ilene Jennings, opened a small sewing shop called Needles III on Fifth Street, across from the Post Office (later relocating it to Sixth Street, where Bricktown Popcorn is now located).
That shop led to the start of quilting classes, and also to the formation of a quilting group called “Just Friends.”
Today, “Just Friends” is still going strong with about 20 members who meet on the second Tuesday evening (6:30 p.m.) of each month at First United Methodist Church in Nevada.
Co-founder of the group, Ilene, is no longer living, but her counterpart Mary Jo is still a member of the long-time club, where she’s enjoyed what the rest of the members have enjoyed – friendship through the years, and projects.
Just Friends has made approximately 30 quilts per year for local nursing homes. They’ve also donated quilts for other worthy causes, like the Story County Sheriff’s Department for comfort to victims, flood relief efforts, fundraising endeavors, and they donated back when there were needs in the aftermath of 9-1-1.
“It’s a mix, what we’ve done over the years. Sometimes we’ve worked together on group projects, and other times at meetings we gather to share our own projects with the rest of the group,” Mary Jo said.
Just Friends officially began in the late 1970s, with meetings held in members’ homes. Some members at the time were from Ames, so meetings alternated between a home in Ames one month and a home in Nevada the next.
These days, regular meetings are held at the Methodist Church in Nevada. Sometimes the group holds a “retreat” at Memorial Lutheran Church, also in Nevada. Always, the group enjoys food, whether that is snacks or an occasional potluck.
The group, as it stands today, has members aged 61 and up. Members know that to continue their group in the coming decades, they need to find some new, younger members. “We know they’re out there (younger people who quilt),” one member said, “because we see posts and videos that younger quilters are sharing through social media.”
If the modern era’s social media brings about a new crop of young quilters, Just Friends members hope a few of them find their way to a Just Friends meeting. Even young people who don’t know the art of quilting are invited to come and learn from these seasoned quilters.
Belonging to Just Friends requires a once-per-year membership payment of $20, which helps the group pay for meeting space, fabrics, and supplies. If you are interested, please reach out to Laurie McCracken via Facebook Messenger, or stop by First United Methodist Church in Nevada during a meeting time.
–Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
