12/04/2025
As we wrap up 2025. Let's take a look back at some of our feature families this year.
Meet our October feature: The Loney Family & Tapestry Rockford
On a chilly afternoon in January of 2024, the basement of Shawn Marie and Chad Loney’s Rockford home looked more like a small department store than a family storage space. Clothing racks hung from the ceiling, shoe shelves lined the walls, and bags of gently used children’s clothes filled every corner. What started with a handful of hand-me-downs for her two boys had quietly grown into something larger. “I didn’t know exactly what I was creating at first,” Shawn Marie said. “I just knew there was a need, and I wanted to fill it.”
That need became Tapestry Rockford, a volunteer-run community hub that provides free clothing, shoes, sports equipment, and school essentials to children and teens. Her hope is simple, that Tapestry will become a long-lasting thread in Rockford’s own tapestry of care, continuing to grow and adapt with the community.
As she reflects on the whirlwind first year, Shawn’s words are filled with both gratitude and determination. “Tapestry has taught me that even the smallest act of kindness can ripple outward,” she explained. “Every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and cared for. That’s what drives us.” In the end, Tapestry is about more than racks of clothing. It is about weaving connections between families, schools, volunteers, and neighbors. It is about creating a fabric of community strong enough to carry its children, one thread at a time.
