Continue to Craft By Making Care Blankets

Continue to Craft By Making Care Blankets
March 25, 2020
Sky Kevyn Yeasayer
Volunteer

Our patients take great comfort from blankets that are made by loving volunteers and donated to Hosparus Health. When a patient dies, these care blankets become a lasting gift to the family, often holding special memories. We are so grateful for the many talented seamstresses, knitters and quilters who take the time to craft these handmade treasures.

Vivian Pace is one of our wonderful care blanket volunteers. She is a seamstress who made all her children’s clothes and had been making quilts for many years when her eyesight got worse and she became unable to do the small needlework. She then started crocheting afghans to donate to a children’s program. Vivian used whatever yarn she could find on sale. Her daughter, Beth Johnson, who works for Hosparus Health in Medical Records, suggested that she donate her afghans to the Hosparus Health Care Blanket program.

A few months ago, Vivian wrote to Coats&Clark, a textile company renowned as the world’s largest supplier of crafting products, including yarn. Vivian let them know that she made care blankets for hospice patients and asked them for a donation. She wasn’t sure anything would come of it, until three large boxes of with over 100 skeins of yarn recently showed up at her home.

In the past year, Vivian has crocheted over 50 afghans for Hosparus Health patients, including specially made patriotic blankets for veteran recognition. We’re thrilled for the donation to keep Vivian supplied and we’re so grateful for the time and material Vivian has contributed to our care blanket program. In turn, Vivian is glad to have an outlet for her talent and happy someone can use her blankets.

We accept quilted, crocheted and knitted blankets of any design and fabric. We especially appreciate receiving patriotic-themed blankets for our veteran patients. Blankets should be no larger than 3’ x 4’ and must be clean, unused and free from fragrance (smoke free, dryer sheets, etc.).

While our Volunteer Services office is currently closed due to concerns over coronavirus (COVID-19) and cannot accept donations at this time, we will need care blankets more than ever when we reopen. We ask that you please continue to make blankets and hold onto them until for now.

Since craft and department stores are now closed to the public, we understand it may be hard to purchase supplies to keep you busy. Here is a list where you can either have supplies delivered from, or drive to for a pick-up service from an online order: