Lotte Reed, a long-time Citrus Heights resident and avid quilter, was officially recognized by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday with a Heroes of Human Service Award for her charitable work in the community.
“Lotte has quilted over 30 years and touched the lives of young and old, sick, poor, hungry and hopeless,” said Supervisor Sue Frost, in announcing the award during the board’s Nov. 7 meeting. Over the past year alone, Frost said Reed had distributed over 700 completed quilts to various local organizations like nursing homes, VA hospitals, WEAVE, and Harmony House.
Although Reed was unable to attend the meeting due to unexpected medical reasons, her daughter was present to receive the award on her behalf.
“All the services that she sews her quilts for, she does with a lot of love and she takes a lot of time to pick out things, especially for the children’s ward,” said Reed’s daughter, Mona Laird. “She really has an affinity for the children’s wards and the homeless.”
Supervisor Frost, who represents Citrus Heights and surrounding areas of the county on the board of supervisors, said Reed was born in Germany and learned to knit and sew while attending a Catholic school. She came to the United States in 1952 with her husband, Paul, and eventually settled in Citrus Heights in 1961, where the couple raised six children.
Reed joined the Golden Valley Quilt Guild in 2002 and served as Community Service Coordinator for the group. In 2015, she was recognized by the Citrus Heights city council and police department for donating quilts for officers to carry in the back of patrol vehicles to give to in-need children encountered by officers during service calls.
The 87-year-old also sews for hospice and contributes about 25 quilts each year to the Mercy San Juan Hospice Program, Frost said. Large bags are also quilted by Reed and given to Loaves and Fishes for shower bags. Smaller bags are given to nursing homes for wheel chairs and walkers.
Sacramento County annually recognizes individuals through Heroes of Human Services awards, gathering nominations from the community each year as part of the selection process. Frost said the awards are to recognize those in the community who have “touched the lives of others,” and said Reed was “truly a hero of human services.”
Citrus Heights residents Forrest and Sue Allan nominated Reed for the award this year.
