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On second thought, New York City will let Iowans give quilts in person
By KEN FUSON
Register Staff Writer
12/13/2001
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Start spreading the news: The Big Apple has backed down.
Score one for Betty Nielsen and her persistent band of quilt-makers in tiny Varina.
Faced with a public-relations tempest, New York City officials scrambled Wednesday to assure the small-town Iowans that they will be allowed to personally distribute their quilts this weekend at an event for families of the victims killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The change of heart apparently came after New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani learned that Nielsen and her friends in Varina, a northwest Iowa town of 90 people, had made or collected 1,500 quilts in the past six weeks for families of the victims.
"It's a go," Nielsen said. "The mayor actually said, 'Let the four people in,' so we're going."
The quilts are expected to be loaded today onto a semitrailer truck in Varina, then driven to the Family Assistance Center at Pier 94 in Manhattan. Nielsen, her husband and two other volunteers - Pat Archer of Albert City and Beulah Imming of rural Fonda - will fly to New York this weekend and distribute the quilts at a three-day event that begins Sunday.
"Now I know how a yo-yo feels," said Nielsen's husband, Dennis.
New York City has invited the family members of people killed in the terrorist attacks to attend a Winter Wonderland, where free toys and gifts will be available. The Iowans were told Tuesday that only mental-health workers, trained city employees and family members would be allowed to attend the private event.
With no opportunity to oversee distribution, Nielsen decided to keep the quilts in Varina and cancel the New York trip.
All that changed Wednesday. Mental-health workers now will work alongside the Iowa volunteers in a booth at the fair.
"They decided they could make an exception," said Dianne Liepa, state staff director for U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin. "It was a matter of getting somebody to look at this who really had the authority to make the decision."
Harkin, who wrote a letter to Giuliani explaining the Freedom Quilt Project, applauded New York's decision to reconsider.
"This is terrific news," he said. "I'm so pleased that these beautiful quilts, gathered in Iowa and made and donated from all across the country, will be hand-delivered by Iowa volunteers" to the families.
Lynn Rasic, a spokeswoman for Giuliani, said city officials consulted with mental-health experts to arrange a way for Nielsen and the others to attend the event. Rasic wasn't sure if the mayor ordered an exemption for the Iowans, but "he is aware of this."
"It's exciting," she said. "We're pleased. The quilts will be a great addition to the Winter Wonderland."
Betty Nielsen, who has never been to New York and has never organized anything larger than confirmation class at her church, said her head has been spinning this week.
"I'm happy, but I'm leery," she said. "I just wanted to do something for the families. If we had to go through this, maybe the Lord wanted us to."
-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001