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Twice a month for the last four years, the Mother Seton Parish Quilting Angels have met at the Germantown church to catch up with old friends, make new ones and bring comfort to others.

The informal, multi-denominational group produces hundreds of quilts for children with cancer and wounded soldiers every year, according to co-leader Sharon Brzostowski.

Meetings are more about building relationships and fostering a sense of community than perfecting their stitching.

"We've kind of slowly kept growing and we have people who aren't involved in the parish come," said Brzostowski, 62, of Germantown. "It's very relaxing, it's a time to socialize."

The group donates quilts to wounded soldiers through the nonprofit Quilts of Valor Foundation, which gives quilts to veterans with physical or psychological injuries and teamed up with the Kensington-based charity Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation last year. The foundation is a national advocacy group with local affiliates that hold awareness events like annual tree lighting ceremonies, where the Quilting Angels distributed quilts to children last year.

"It's something that helps them during treatment," said Bonnie Shoval of Germantown, head of Candlelighters' family and community support program, who picked up quilts for the organization Saturday. "Kids with cancer spend a lot of time in the hospital and they bring the quilts with them, and they really brighten the room up and bring a lot of comfort."

About 20 people gathered for a day of quilting Saturday after a "Blessing of the Quilts" during Mass, which are held at Mother Seton Parish several times a year. A special blessing was done on a U.S. Marines-themed quilt made for a Vietnam War veteran who retired in 2000 after 30 years as a county police officer.

Tony Borja, 60, who has Parkinson's disease, served during the Tet Offensive in a Marine battalion nicknamed "The Walking Dead." His family believes the Parkinson's was caused by exposure to the highly toxic herbicide Agent Orange, said his wife Patty Borja of Derwood.

"He's all there mentally, but he's just trapped in his body. This will mean a lot to him," said Borja, 58. Her husband lives in an assisted living facility, his room filled with his medals and other mementos from his time in the Marines. Borja said she would use the fabric bag that held the quilt as a pillowcase to feel closer to him.

"I'm just overwhelmed by the generosity of the group and their thoughtfulness," she said.