Blog | Blankie Depot

Project ideas beyond blanket making

2013 Demonstration poster—Service project

Several times a year, we are contacted by youth volunteers interested in support our mission in unique but equally helpful ways; project ideas beyond blanket making. One such recent project was completed by a young lady who constructed a demonstration poster for us to use when we give live presentations at schools, community centers and volunteer conferences. The table top tri-fold standee is ideal for sharing our mission and accomplishments with volunteers we meet at special events.

Daily Point of Light award

points-of-light-award

PROJECT LINUS NJ, INC. “BLANKETEERS”

Award Number: 1953

July 30, 2001
www.pointsoflight.org/programs/recognition/dpol/awards/1953

On Jan. 8, 1993, President George H. W. Bush submitted a report to the nation on his efforts to engage Americans in service. He called these volunteers “points of light.” In 2001, we received a Point of Light Award from President Bush to recognize our volunteer efforts. The Points of Light has inspired and recognized thousands for their voluntary service and celebrated the impact volunteers have on communities around the world. On a national scale, only 4,500 Daily Point of Light honorees have been named to date.

Caravan of Love – Blankie Depot’s volunteer delivery team

photo supplied and donations created by Alice Zagury, volunteering since 2002.

By 2000, we had grown considerably in knit, crochet and quilting volunteers and our next challenge was recruiting a dedicated delivery team to help us reach recipients county to county. During our first noticeable growth spurt, our Caravan of Love was born! Each year, a team of people volunteer their time by transporting handmade donations to all 21 counties in NJ; week by week as we work through our recipient roster. 300-600 handmade items every week head out our doors, delivered by this very dedicated team.

I know without our volunteers stopping by with pickups from our drop off bins and the delivery team coordinating donations we would be hard pressed to meet the needs of our clients on a regular basis. If you would like to join our team the application process begins here: http://www.blankiedepo.org/caravan-of-love/driver-application-form/

So join me in acknowledging our current team of busy drivers: Danny, Greg, Al, Kim, Wendy, Cliff & Liz, Judy, Debbie, Mary Ann, Jeannette, Jane, Nicole, Beverly, Pat, Patti and Anne.

Thank YOU, Caravan of Love!

Service Learning – Rutgers Preparatory School

DayON4Service “Project Blankie” team

Somerset, NJ — DayON4Service “Project Blankie” team making blankets! These youth volunteers loved working on this wonderful project and will be delighted to know their handiwork will provide comfort to so many tiny recipients and their families. Several students expressed a wish to continue the project beyond our service day, so we will be sending more blankets soon! We look forward to partnering with Blankie Depot again. — Library Assistant, Community Service Coordinator

(photo reprint with permission)

Baby Shoe Pattern

Photo and sample by Patti Ryan

NEW PATTERN LINK JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING
FROM MICHAEL MILLER FABRICS
Prepared by Joanna Armour
http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/05/quilting-tidbits.html

CLOTH BABY SHOES
(soft, hand & machine washable and adorable!)

PATTERN (PDF)
http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/Blog/cloth_shoe.pdf

From The Archives: Circa 2001 – International Year of the Volunteer Workshop, YMCA/Red Bank, NJ

photo: YMCA/Red Bank staffers, youth volunteers from four NJ counties, Blankie Depot workshop coordinators and supporters (including Miss New Jersey 2001).

That year, President, Hillary Roberts, (photo: 4th person from the left) was summoned to Washington, DC to receive an award for our first international project with Bonn, Germany in ordinance with the United Nations World Leadership event. IYV 2001 was also the beginning of our state-wide, unified volunteer network under our official 501c3 non profit designation. The beautiful crystal world globe we received from American journalist, Cokie Roberts during the awards ceremony, adorns our HQ to this day!

From Our mailbox – Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

barnabas-health

Dear Blankie Depot,
Being hospitalized is stressful for an adult, so imagine how much more frightening it is for a child. Nice warm blankets help take away this fear and stress for our young patients. Thank you for your generous donation of hats and blankets. Your thoughtful gifts bring delighted smiles to so many small faces in Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. During these challenging economic times, we are especially grateful to be able to give these presents to our patients who have so little. Many of the children are surprised and delighted to learn they can actually take their special gift with them when they are well enough to go home! Your kindness means so much too so many. Thank you for keeping our children in your hearts.

Vice President of Development, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Foundation

Pierson Arkins New York – a partnership with style!

Pierson Arkins is a women’s wear brand founded in 2011 in New York City by partners Germaine, Kellie and Nicolas. Germaine and Kellie were inspired by their grandmothers, Pierson and Arkins, to take up sewing as children. Through this outlet streamed a constant desire to bring luxury, craftsmanship, and subtle detail together in every piece. From the start, the purpose has been to make high quality clothing for women who define style under their own terms.

Germaine writes:

While sourcing fabric for the Sweater, our primary concern was softness, breathability, and ecological impact. We were beyond satisfied with our chosen fabric, a 100% Certified Organic Cotton, but we were disappointed when scraps were piling up and we couldn’t bare to part with the plush bits and pieces. Determined to reuse the remnants, we discovered Blankie Depot. Instead of tossing our scraps, we will use the leftovers to make and donate organic baby goods as we produce our limited made-to-order pieces. We are thrilled to have found such a meaningful second life for our quality fabric. It’s a great cause and such a fun way to make an impact.

Designing with purpose-how much do we love that!

Visit: www.piersonarkins.com

Compassion in a Box

10 beautiful quilts donated by the East Bay Heritage Quilters, Albany, California

When Hurricane Sandy touched down it rocked the tristate area. Eight days later, when our electric returned the first call I received was from the American Quilter’s Society of Kentucky asking how we could team up. What resulted from that initial telephone call was an opportunity to receive over a thousand handmade quilts from AQS members who wished to provide warm, twin and queen sized quilts for the families impacted by the storm. What arrived: stunningly beautiful, professionally finished quilts of every color. Bright and cheerful gifts to comfort the soul; that demonstrated the compassion and empathy found in acts of kindness.

Our last official quilt donation to Hurricane Sandy families arrived from the East Bay Heritage Quilters of Albany, CA. The note inside their shipping box stated: “Many of us have connections to the East Coast-friends and family, and many of us have lived there. So, we were deeply hit when Sandy came through making her devastating changes. We hope our quilts will help as people continue to pick up and rebuild.”

Nearly every quilt donation that arrived to our HQ, arrived with a note inside the box. Quilt guilds, quilting shop owners, quilting instructors, long arm quilters, faith groups, quilt clubs in schools and quilt enthusiasts all reached out to us.

All sharing the same message: keep safe, stay warm, we care.

Together, we make all the difference!

The Dreamweavers of New Providence, NJ

A few members of the Tues night sit & stitch group, Middletown, NJ

To date, more than 170 knit, crochet, quilt and toy making groups have joined Blankie Depot’s network. You might wonder why an established group would need to join a non profit organization. The answer is two-fold: SOLIDARITY AND TEAMWORK. This is how 100% volunteer organizations make a difference; we are able to serve 30,000 NJ children a year by collaborating. Together, we make all the difference!

Crossroads AOG, Medford, NJ

The Ladies of Embury Avenue