Blanket Hugs

Who doesn't like to curl up on a cold winter's night with their own special warm blanket? Many people do not have this luxury such as the homeless families who sleep in shelters, or kids who enter foster care. Your family can help them derive some comfort from sleeping in a strange bed in a strange place with the gift of a Blanket Hug!

We've adapted this great project from the Consolidated School Kids Care Club's project "Warm Hugs." Upon learning about the desperate need for blankets in their local homeless shelter, they decided to have a "Warm Hugs" drive. School families purchased the blankets. The club members traced their hands on construction paper, and wrapped these blankets with "hands and arms" so as to appear as if someone is giving the blanket a hug. A homemade card accompanied the blanket.

Most likely, there is a shelter, hospital, or foster care agency in your community or in the next town that could use Blanket Hugs too.

Materials Needed:

Fleece blankets, or
Fleece material to make blankets
Scissors
Construction paper, tape

Steps Involved

1. Contact a shelter or agency that you think could use Blanket Hugs.
2. Decide if you will purchase the blankets or material. Fleece blankets can be found in stores starting at $5.O0.
3. If your family makes the blankets, cut fringe (3 inches) at the ends of the fleece for a decorative touch.
4. To make the "hugs" trace your hands on construction paper and attach to "arms" or a strip of paper that will wrap around the rolled blanket. Include a caring message on the strip around the blanket or make a caring card.
5. Deliver your Blanket Hugs.

Alternative Project
Hand knit blankets, or Hand made quilts

Visit Project Linus, www.projectlinus.org, an organization dedicated to providing hand made blankets to babies, children suffering from serious illness and trauma, in hospitals, cancer treatment facilities, clinics, hospices and homeless shelters. The site contains information about local Project Linus chapters and quilt patterns.

Hand knit blankets are a great way to connect with senior centers or seniors in retirement or nursing homes. Many seniors have the skills to share and the time to make blankets. Your family might make a new friend who could join you in your community outreach.

International
For information on sending blankets to babies in Haiti, Honduras, or the Sudan, email mbyrne@pointsoflight.org.

© 2008 FamilyCares. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden.