“Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without.” This slogan was created by the War Advertising Council during World War II. The purpose was to conserve scarce resources and to help keep prices down by not generating excess demand.

Fast forward almost 80 years.

Quilters are by nature a thrifty lot. They are known to sew bits and pieces together to eke out that last piece of fabric for a quilt block.

Quilters also love pets. Many quilters have to share their work space with beloved puppies and kitties or maybe even a hamster. It doesn’t matter. They enjoy the companionship.

But not all animals are lucky enough to have a quilter in their life. These are the orphans found in the Gloucester-Mathews Animal Shelter. Having been through a rough life, these animals need hugs and comfort, but there are not always enough hugs to go around. Enter Bay Quilters of Mathews.

Although they cannot actually deliver hugs to the animals at the shelter, the members of Bay Quilters decid...