Every year, the Long Island Quilters' Society (LIQS) spends the year creating quilts to donate to a worthwhile cause in time for the holiday season. This year, the recipient of the generous gift was the Long Island Infant Developmental Program.

The Quilters' society, which has been in existence for approximately 25 years, is an organization of 600 members who meet once a month to foster the creativity and craftsmanship of quilting. The group, which is open to everyone, invites guest speakers and holds workshops at their monthly meetings.

Over 200 quilts were handmade and gift-wrapped by members of LIQS and delivered to the families involved with the Developmental Program, which is a nonprofit organization providing early intervention services at no out-of-pocket cost to eligible children and their families in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

A member of LIQS had her child involved with the Long Island Infant Developmental Program and decided to tell group members about their services and the decision was made - they would be the recipients of this year's donation.

Wendy Strumwasser, president of the Long Island Quilters' Society and a resident of Plainview, gave the quilts to Lenore Stamm, director of the Long Island Infant Developmental Program, at a ceremony held last week.

All of the quilting is done on a volunteer basis. The Charity Quilts committee, which was headed by Chairwoman Cheryl Blam, who is also a full-time career woman, consisted of Terri Verity, a full-time mom of three young children and Nancy Roth. Group members know Roth, who is Terry's mother, as "mom".

Staff members at the Long Island Infant Developmental Program have delivered most of the quilts to the families, who were more than grateful. "Parents have been clogging the phone lines asking how to thank the Long Island Quilters' Society for their generous donation," said Barbara Pirnat, evaluation coordinator and special education teacher at the Long Island Infant Developmental Program.

The Long Island Infant Developmental Program is a home-based program located at 2174 Hewlett Avenue in Merrick. If a parent has a concern about their child's development, whether it is walking, talking, eating or getting along with other children of the same age, they can contact Lenore Stamm at at 546-2333.