Ocala, Fla.—Salt Springs Village residents partnered with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County March 24 to donate 100 handmade quilts to help Healthy Start families.

Each quilt is signed by one of the residents to give it a personal touch. The community’s quilting project donates about 100 quilts to Healthy Start each year.

"I just can’t tell you how much these quilts mean to our clients in need," said Lynne Hough, Healthy Start program administrator. “They are greatly appreciated, often kept for generations as the baby’s first keepsake. These quilts are lovely, soft reminders that they are not alone, there is a community that cares."

Healthy Start helps pregnant women, women who are between pregnancies, infants, and children up to age 3. Healthy Start provides education, resource information, case management and care coordination services in order to improve birth outcomes and decrease infant mortality.

Healthy Start is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To make an appointment, call 352-629-0137, ext. 2275.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit Marion.FloridaHealth.gov.