Volunteer Blanket-makers for Charity

St. John American Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls has opted to make service a part of their youth program and the families at the Ronald McDonald House have come to appreciate that part of the program.  The group makes fleece blankets for the families and kiddos at the charity.

Belva is the lady who directs the youth program at the church.  On a whim called us to ask about ways to volunteer.  First Belva was given a packet of information and began with a tour.  She liked seeing how a blanket, book and stuffed animal were placed in the guest rooms to welcome new families.  She marched right back and talked to a group of five high school students about making blankets.

          The youth were excited to get involved. But it didn’t stop there.  The rest of the congregation got involved, too.  Some of the church members made and donated blankets to give on their own.  Belva was also thrilled to receive donated fleece for their winter project, and now has made it a yearly goal to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

          “We explained how as children are in the hospital that the Ronald McDonald House provides a great place for families to spend their time, and how it's nice for them to be close to the hospitals,” Belva shares of her discussions with the youth group.  She's now worked with a youth group for ten years, and it shows by the wisdom she imparts to them.  I remind the kids how “there's security with a blanket, being read a book and holding a stuffed animal,” Belva further describes the blanket project.

          Some of the benefits of working with fleece blankets is that there isn't any sewing involved and the youth can talk through the construction.  Each month the group has participated in a different project, and they have began to consider the list of needs to gather donated items to bring.  Each “blanket” project turned into donating twenty-five fleece blankets to be given away.  At the Ronald McDonald House, the blankets are then tagged to identify where the blanket was made.  

          Our ability to help comes from our great supporters--the individuals, businesses, and organizations who make this a home. We are truly grateful to every one of them. We give them a safe, secure place to stay, providing them with food from the pantry. We also give them soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and a toothbrush because we can. We have learned that generosity is an amazing gift!