Operation Quilt Drop, a recent benefit for American Hero Quilts, which sends quilts to wounded military personnel and their bereaved loved ones, netted more than $10,000, according to Sue Nebeker, who began the project when the Iraq war started.

“I’m thrilled. I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Nebeker.

She and the volunteers who work with her also have 90 quilts ready to send to a field hospital in Afghanistan, where officers have written to her, asking if she could help with a blanket and coat shortage.

When Nebeker first ex-plored sending quilts to Afghanistan, she learned the only avenue open to her was through the U.S. Postal Service and that sending 60 quilts would cost $850. Since then, some other possibilities have begun to surface, though nothing has been confirmed yet, she said. If no other option presents itself within two weeks, she said she would mail the first set of quilts and get them on their way, as the trip to Afghanistan is a long one.

The fundraising event, which took place Nov. 7 at Sound Food, included two afternoon seatings of high tea as well as an evening soirée.

Roughly 120 people at-tended the events, from on- and off-Island. Two of the guests included a commander from Bremerton and a service member who had been wounded with an IED (improvised explosive device) and had lost most of his sight.

Nebeker presented him with a quilt that day.

Quilts made for people who have lost their vision are heavily quilted to be more tactile, with soldiers, eagles or other patriotic symbols stitched into them.

“It was very moving to see him run his hands over every inch of it,” she said.