Thirty-one years ago, when Alma Mullet began her quilt shop in downtown Berlin, I doubt she thought she'd still be involved in the business today. Alma will be 90 years old in December, and she still comes in to her business, Helping Hands Quilt Shop, on a regular basis. And every Saturday, she has lunch with the shop's manager, Iva Marie Yoder.

"She's quite a lady," Iva said, speaking of Alma, "and she still pieces quilts at home. In fact, that's how her shop began in the first place. She used to have quilts set up all over her house, and her husband finally suggested she find a space in town to work on them. Then other local quilters stopped by her little shop asked if shed sell their homemade quilts for them. Then they began asking advice and if she could get them certain needles, thread, fabric and, well ... her retail shop began. That building is next door to where we are now."

All profits from the shop go to the Helping Hands Quilt Foundation, which distributes money to local charities and those all over the world.

Helping Hands Quilt Shop caters to both the novice and experienced quilter. Quilting supplies of all descriptions are available, plus notions, fabric, batting, stencils, quilt kits and quilting frames (in all sizes). On the lower level of the shop, you'll find Christmas fabrics, flannels, fleece, quilted fabrics and knitting and crocheting supplies.

"Because we're always looking for ways to help our Amish neighbors," Iva said, "we take in their hand-made items to sell on consignment. These may be quilts, aprons, doll clothes, place mats you name it."

Helping Hands also does custom quilting right in the store. You can make all the decisions about your quilt (size, color, fabric, design, etc.), and local Amish quilters will do the rest. Iva said one of her favorite parts of her job is to help someone pick out the myriad of coordinating fabrics and designs for their quilt.

"We have three groups of quilters that come in," Iva explained. "They're from different Amish church districts, and they're usually here the first Tuesday and the last Tuesday and Wednesday of each month, from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They donate their time and their talents, ultimately helping people all around the world -- they literally do have 'helping hands.' Believe it or not, they actually complete about 300 projects each year."

For a custom-made quilt, you can expect to spend anywhere from $895 up to $1600. From the time they're ordered, these true works of art usually take about 12-14 months until completion, although Iva said some patterns Crazy Quilt, Cathedral Window and Yo-Yo can take up to two-and-a-half years.

"People always say it's worth the wait," Iva said, "and no one has ever been disappointed."

If you visit Helping Hands on the previously mentioned days, you can observe the ladies working on several different quilts. Their fingers are flying, lovingly applying stitch after delicate stitch to someone's future keepsake. Their time is also used as a social get-together, as they chatter amongst each other usually in Dutch, with an occasional English word thrown in here and there.

The shop has its own organization, the Thimbleberries Club. This group meets in the evening on the last Tuesday of the month to complete a quilt block. After a period of time, each quilter has a complete quilt. There is a fee for registration and materials.

Next door, in Alma's original shop, there is now a quilting museum. There you can see antique quilts (50 years old and older) as well as old sewing machines, quilt boards, quilt patterns and stencils (they used to be made of cardboard). Some antique quilts are for sale.

Not just grandmothers quilt nowadays. Young and old, and both men and women have discovered the immense pleasure in creating a quilt.

"They've found it to be a very therapeutic hobby," Iva said, "and it gives them great fulfillment. Most people who make their own quilts end up keeping very few of them. They love to give them away for gifts; its an extension of themselves.

Whether you're in the market for a ready-made quilt, wish to have one lovingly sewn for you, or you're going to stitch one yourself, Helping Hands Quilt Shop is the place to go. Visit Helping Hands to see what helping hands have created. By doing so, you're not only getting what you wanted, but you, too, are helping people around the world.

The world is a better place because of Alma's hobby, her business and her generosity.

Helping Hands Quilt Shop, 4818 Main St, PO Box 183, Berlin, OH 44610, (330) 893-2233; hours: Mon.-Sat., 9-5.