Caring about the world one blanket at a time…
After reading an article in the November/December 2007 issue of Searcher magazine entitled, “We Knit the World: Charity Knitting and Crocheting on the Web,” by Irene McDermott, we were inspired to set a 2008 goal of making 365 blankets (i.e., a blanket a day) to donate to charities. Although there are many organizations in need to blankets, we decided to focus on local DC-area charities, homeless shelters for people and/or animals, hospitals for sick children, hence the name “Blanketing DC with Love” (thanks, Janet Stauss, for the creative name!). In 2009 and 2010 we did not set as ambitious a goal but still collected 130 and 212 blankets, respectively. Every year it’s our hope to collect as many blankets for the local DC-area charities. We have had all sorts of blankets contributed — handmade, store-bought, and giveaways — from individuals in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Illinois Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Below was a letter of appreciation from one of the charities we regularly donate to:
Delivering blankets to local DC-area charity.
Blanketing DC with Love members — We at Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSS/NCA) want to thank you whole-heartedly for your hard work and dedication to making sure the children and families we serve have warm, comforting blankets, especially during what has turned out to be one of the coldest winters. Each time the blankets arrive they go right out. The kids with our Youth Haven Camps love the fleece ones and our refugee families could not be more appreciative for the extra warmth. Just wanted you to know that you are indeed blanketing the area with love!
In Peace, Joy, and Service, Summer Parrish
Lutheran Social Services/National Capital Area
ParrishS [at] lssnca.org
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for commonly asked questions. If you are interested in donating blankets to our project or have other questions, please contact me offline:
Karen Huffman
dcblankets [at] cybersailors.org
