Spread the Love

Help support a individuals and families who may be in a difficult situation. Make and deliver fleece blankets to those in need: evacuees after a natural disaster, families in homeless shelters, kids in foster care, or essential workers and medical providers currently sleeping away from their families. Offer comfort from sleeping in a strange bed and in a strange place by giving out blankets and spreading love.

Note About Volunteering at Home:

The impact of COVID-19 continues to change our daily lives and routines, but the volunteers that nonprofits rely on are more important than ever. The following project can be modified to do at home and delivered via mail or drop off to adhere to the social distancing guidelines set by local and national authorities.

We encourage you to connect with the nonprofits and NGOs in your area for the most impactful ways to donate and any specific safety guidelines they may have. To get started, you can check out your local Points of Light Global Network affiliate or Points of Light Service Enterprise, or search the web for local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Be sure to ask:

• “Would your facility be open to receiving this project I’m working on at home once it’s complete?”
• “Are there others way I can help?”

Why Is It Important?

Many people, children, families do not have a home in which to live or their own bed or bedding. When there is a disaster, many more are displaced from their homes. With COVID-19, some essential workers and medical providers need to sleep away from their families. All need a place to sleep and warmth or comfort knowing that others care. Simple gestures can deeply encourage and support those in need and help them transition to a better place.

What You Need:

• Fleece blankets, or fleece material to make blankets
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Construction paper, tape, markers, pens

Steps:

1. Contact a shelter or agency supports that disaster relief, homeless families or foster children.
2. Decide if you will purchase ($5 and up) or make blankets.
3. If making them:
4. Purchase fleece at a fabric store online. Be sure to research how much fabric you’ll need by researching based on the size blanket you want to make (twin size, full size, etc.).
5. Measure and cut out blankets.
6. Cut 3 inches of fringe at the ends to finish.
7. Wrap the blanket in a construction paper wrapping. You can trace your hands and cut them out, then add strips of paper to look like arms and tape together around the rolled-up blanket.
8. Write a note on the wrapping or put a card or note inside.
9. Deliver your blanket bundles to the agency.

Reflection Questions:

• Did you enjoy your service project?
• Do you feel that you helped someone?
• How would you feel if you received the blanket and note like the one you made?
• What else can you do to help displaced people?