Shelburne resident Gisele Kloeckner recently created and donated sixteen handmade quilts to the residents of Howard Center’s Lakeview House in Shelburne.
Kloeckner was inspired when she learned about Howard Center’s construction of the new residential home late in 2023. Opened in 2024 and built to accommodate 16 adults living with mental health concerns, Lakeview House includes a private bedroom for each resident along with amenities like a library space, exercise room, and common dining room.
“Quilting is something I enjoy doing very much and knowing I had somebody to give them to who would appreciate them makes it even better,” said Kloeckner, who added that her friend Karen Allen helped with longarming for all the quilts.
Kloeckner coordinated her donation with Howard Center’s Cathie Buscaglia who oversaw the construction of the home. “Unlike our clinical spaces, Lakeview is a home and we designed it to be as comfortable and welcoming as possible. When Gisele reached out with a handmade quilt for each resident, it was the perfect finishing touch to the whole project,” said Buscaglia.
The home in Shelburne is the third location of the Lakeview House program which was started in 1998. Lakeview House can be a long-term or permanent home and several of the residents have been together for many years.