As the child, sibling and wife of veterans, Cecelia Bradford knows how important an organization like the Quilts of Valor Foundation can be. That’s why she was surprised to see a lack of supporting shops when she moved to Athens.

QOVF is a national organization of volunteers that create quilts for veterans of the United States armed services. Four years after her move, the Hen House Quilters, founded in part by Bradford, are proud to piece quilts out of 3 Hens & A Chick Quilt Shop, an official Quilts of Valor shop.

“A lot of our vets came home and never got recognized for their service,” Bradford said. “Wrapping them in quilts is a way of wrapping them in our love.”

The quilters meet 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. As a recognized QOVF store, 3 Hens & A Chick sells patriotic fabrics that can be purchased at a discount for Quilts of Valor. Each quilter brings a sewing machine to help them piece together quilt blocks.

Carol Alley is one of the four women who own 3 Hens & A Chick. Her husband is a member of the Hen House Quilters, and Alley said the quilts they build are usually designed ahead of time by the quilt guild’s leader.

Each member builds a block and turns it in so it can be sewn together into a large quilt top, she said. A separate group then adds backing and batting, as well as a label with information about the quilters, the veteran receiving the quilt and the day of presentation.

Bradford said the Hen House Quilters held their first presentation in June at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives in Athens. Three veterans received quilts: Jerry Crabtree, president of the board of directors at the AVMA; Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks; and Ron Webster, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 511.

She said they also presented five quilts Saturday in Florence.

“It is more than awesome,” Bradford said. “It is very touching.”

Families and friends of veterans can visit www.qovf.org/request-qov/ to request their loved one be awarded a Quilt of Valor. It is a single lifetime award, meaning veterans can only receive one Quilt of Valor.

Those who wish to support the organization can do so in a multitude of ways, Alley said.

“You can support the national organization or you can support the local shop,” Alley said.

To support the national organization, visit the store in Athens to donate or visit www.qovf.org/donate/ to donate online. To support at the local level, purchase fabric at 3 Hens & A Chick, donate money for supplies for local quilters or, as a quilter, donate your time and skill at one of the guild’s meetings. Quilters can become a member of the Hen House Quilters for $5 per year.

Though donations of any amount are appreciated, it costs $300 to support one veteran receiving a Quilt of Valor, according to the QOVF website. So far, more than 222,000 Quilts of Valor have been awarded.