Local nurse and cancer survivor initiates statewide Unity Quilt project

Inspired by more than 55 years working as a nurse and a brush with cancer, 88-year-old Carol Carpenter has dedicated herself to a statewide project to bring the community together: the Unity Quilt.

The Unity Quilt Project is seeking 70 3-feet by 6-feet quilts from each Pennsylvania county as well as Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Harrisburg to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. The project, Carpenter said, is designed to bring communities together and, according to a summary of the event, “create a lasting symbol of unity, diversity, and shared civic values.”

The project, inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, will be unveiled in a unifying ceremony in Harrisburg on Oct. 11. Quilts will be themed around the participating locations’ contributions to the United States’ past, present and future.

Quilters are asked to “consider local stories, landmarks, or individuals who have advanced democratic principles, such as voting rights, civic inclusion, community service, or advocacy” as they brainstorm designs.

Carpenter explained in an interview that since she began working as a nurse in 1955, she has seen many people through struggles, including during her time working on a substance abuse unit. This experience, she said, has served as a primary motivation for the Unity Quilt Project.

“In nursing, you have a lot of experiences no one else will have,” said Carpenter. “You help people at their darkest times.”

In 1987, she explained, she was one of three nurses at the VA to be diagnosed with cancer. Carpenter was the only one to survive, one of many brushes with death she described in the interview.

“I kept surviving, and I kept asking why,” said Carpenter. “When I had cancer, I made peace with death, I expected to be dead before that year was over.”

Since then, Carpenter has sought a purpose to her survival. Recently, she said, she has grown worried about the youth, between high substance abuse and suicide rates and frequent exposure to adult responsibilities and ideas.

With her experience as a nurse and willingness to listen, she said, many young people feel comfortable talking to her about their problems. She described conversations with kids taking care of siblings in a parent’s absence, who have lost friends to suicide or addiction, and who struggle with depression themselves.

“We are in the biggest mental health crisis we could imagine, and our democracy is hanging by a thread,” said Carpenter. “People tell people to sit up and shut down, that’s not the way to go … everyone wants to be heard. People just want someone to listen to them.”

The non-political project, she said, is about fostering community and a sense of belonging. She added that she does not want participants to spend large amounts of money on their quilts, especially if that is a barrier to entry.

Each county is advised to designate a project coordinator to oversee panel creation. Those interested in participating can learn more at the Unity Quilt Project website and contact the project committee at unityquiltproject@gmail.com.

Project designs should be submitted by email by Aug. 31, an informational packet explained.