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When she learned of a national drive for pillowcases, Ann McConkey saw it as a chance to do something nice for others in her community while also doing something she loves.

American Patchwork & Quilting magazine in January posed the One Million Pillowcase Challenge to retailers, quilt guilds and other organizations, to make and provide pillowcases for charity.

The Quilting Bee, a store at 120 S. Santa Fe, accepted the challenge and influenced 20 local ladies -- some of them employees at the store -- to join in.

"I thought it was a good cause," said McCon-key, 49.

She's made 66 of the nearly 400 pillowcases collected by the Quilting Bee. The local goal is to collect 500 pillowcases by the end of this year.

On Tuesday, the Quilting Bee began delivering the pillowcases to several local organizations, including Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas, Ashby House, Salina Rescue Mission, Cancer Center of Kansas and the Salina Regional Health Center pediatrics department.

"It's a thoughtful thing to do for people in our community. The pillowcases we made don't get sent anywhere. They stay in Salina," said Carol Duree, a clerk and quilting teacher at the Quilting Bee and chairwoman of the Salina pillowcase drive.

Giving back to needy people intrigues McConkey and offers an excuse to downsize and upgrade her fabric supply.

"I basically wanted to get rid of some of my fabric stash that was clogging up my closet," she said. "I started cutting up pieces, and the next thing I knew, I had quite a few I could give away. Now I have room to fill up my closet again."

The response from local crafters and seamstresses has been "incredible," Duree said. "Some turn in two dozen at a time. One lady has contributed 13 different kinds of pillowcases."

The Quilting Bee is giving away patterns for pillowcases, and patterns are also available on the challenge website, allpeoplequilt.com/mil lionpillowcases/. As of Tuesday afternoon, the website reported 164,607 pillowcases had been made.

"I know we haven't reported ours yet," Duree said.

"A pillowcase means a lot," McConkey said. "It's something to carry their stuff in or to sleep on."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

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