Frequently Asked Questions

About the National Donor Family Quilt

How long will it take to sew my patch into the Quilt?

The entire quilt is hand-stitched by donor family volunteers. Because each panel contains 70 patches, we must receive a full set of 70 before any one panel can be completed. Generally it takes 11 months to 20 months for a quilt panel to be completed.

Why can't I find my loved one's quilt patch on the web site?

The Quilt is a very special project for us and we try to publish your loved one's patch as soon as possible. However, because publishing the digital images and stories from each quilt panel is complex, it could take one to two years for your patch to appear on the web site. If you have difficulty locating your patch, contact the National Donor Family Council to find out which panel your loved one's patch is on and when you can expect to see it on the website.

My quilt patch shows "no story available." Can I still submit my story?

Yes. If you submitted a quilt patch with no story and would like to share your story at this time, simply send it to donorfamily@kidney.org or National Donor Family Quilt, National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016. Please limit stories to about 100 words and remember to include your loved one's name along with your name, address, and phone number.

There is an error on my loved one's quilt page.

Since names, cities and dates are copied into the Quilt database from families' handwritten notes, typographical errors may occur. If there is an error on your loved one's quilt page, please e-mail donorfamily@kidney.org or call 800.622.9010 so we can correct the page.

Is the quilt ever displayed in its entirety?

Yes. Because the Quilt is so large, it travels to different venues in sections. However, all panels of "Patches of Love" are displayed together at the National Donor Recognition Ceremonies in Washington, DC. If you are attending a quilt display event in your area and would like to see a particular panel, please contact us well in advance to make your request.

About the National Donor Family Quilt Tour

What is the Quilt on Tour Schedule?

The entire Quilt is displayed at the National Donor Recognition Ceremony and Workshop (held in odd-numbered years by the Division of Transplantation, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

The NDFC is proud to have one panel of the National Donor Family Quilt on permanent display at The National Donor Memorial in Richmond, Virginia.

Many organizations, including organ recovery organizations, display the Quilt at special events. Families can also reserve the Quilt for family gatherings or milestone events.

The Quilt on Tour schedule can be viewed online at www.donorfamily.org and is also published in the For Those Who Give and Grieve newsletter. For the most up-to-date tour information, please contact the NDFC.

Please note: The entire Quilt is not displayed at every event, and not every event is open to the public. For information about which panels will be displayed at a particular event, or to request a specific panel of the Quilt, please call the organization sponsoring the event or the NDFC.

The entire Quilt can also be viewed online.

Can Donor Families Reserve the Quilt?

Yes! Donor families can reserve a panel of the Quilt for family gatherings or events in their local area. Families can request their loved one's Quilt panel for display on special occasions, holidays or local events. Some families reserve a Quilt panel for family reunions, memorial services, weddings, birthdays or anniversaries.

Where Can the Quilt Be Displayed?

Families and organizations can display the Quilt almost anywhere, at both public and private events, including:

• Local events honoring donors such as donor recognition ceremonies, memorial events, dinners, brunches, picnics
• Family gatherings or milestone events such as reunions, memorial services, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and holidays
• Donor awareness activities: April is National Donate Life Month, but the Quilt can be reserved for a donor awareness campaign at any time throughout the year.
• Educational workshops, support groups
• Shopping malls, holiday gift fairs
• Universities, schools, lecture halls, libraries
• Places of employment
• Churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship
• Arts and crafts shows, art classes, quilt-making workshops
• Health fairs, health screenings, hospitals, nursing homes

How Do I Reserve the Quilt?

For information about reserving a Quilt panel, please contact the NDFC for updated information and pricing. The NDFC can be reached by e-mail at donorfamily@kidney.org or by phone at 212.889.2210 or toll-free at 800.622.9010. Please notify the NDFC of any special requests, including requests for a specific panel of the Quilt.

Arrangements must be made in advance to display the Quilt properly and to obtain permission from the venue where the Quilt will be displayed.