Blanket Brigade kids spread the warmth

The children volunteer their after-school time to make the blankets.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

LIBERTY — Alana Landers has a special reason for joining the Blanket Brigade at William S. Guy Middle School.

The sixth-grader, one of 28 sixth-graders participating in the program, wanted to learn how to make a “tie” blanket so she could make one of her own for a special friend — a preschool girl who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Alana said she plans to make that special blanket as a Christmas present.

Making blankets for people who need a warm, cozy cover is what the Blanket Brigade is all about, said Ellen King, who coordinates the program.

“It’s a child thing,” she said, explaining that both boys and girls volunteer their time to come to her room after school to make the blankets.

She has no shortage of volunteers.

Two pupils are assigned to make each blanket, and there’s room for only 14 at a time in the classroom.

King, who is assisted on the project by teacher Kathleen Rotar and Youngstown State University student Stephanie Inden, said she had 28 children sign up quickly for the current round of blanket-making, and seven others who wanted to participate, but are on a waiting list to participate in the next session after the first of the year.

The pupils are divided into two groups, half meeting Wednesday and half Thursday each week.

It all began as an after-school program but has now grown into a community service project, King said.

“It’s a prime example of children doing something wonderful,” King said. “They’re really giving of themselves to do this. They do this because they know it’s the right thing to do.”

The blankets are actually two pieces of fleece, one plain and one colored or patterned, tied together.

Noah Persson has been involved in the project before and said he enjoys being with friends and having fun in the process.

“I’m good at cutting,” he said, as he wielded scissors to cut fringe on the edge of a blanket he was working on.

As for the part involving tying the fringe to link the two pieces of fleece together — “I’m OK at that,” Noah said.

Tying the pieces to complete the blanket is the fun part, according to Amber Heggins.

She said she decided to volunteer when King told her the effort was for battered women. “I wanted to help them out,” Amber said.

The pupils will vote on where they want the blankets to go, King said, adding, “I have shelves of blankets.” Beatitude House, the YWCA’s battered women’s shelter, Assumption Village and perhaps several other agencies are likely recipients.

Once that decision is made, the agencies will be contacted to come to the school and the children will take the blankets to their waiting vehicles, King said.

Pupils in the Wednesday session are Katie Daniels, Taylor McCulley, Mckayla Chismark, Nathan DeRenzis, Brandon McFadden, Nick Narkum, Mackenzie Stanley, Bobby Stanovcak, Taylor Shall, Autumn Crawford, Angela Kermac, Derrick Kennedy, Erica Richard, Christian Reese and Robert England. Parents Mary Daniels, Michelle McFadden and Sherry Stanley are assisting them.

Those in the Thursday session are Alana Landers, Jaylen Curtis, Hannah Fusillo, Naem Shihaden, Amber Heggins, Danny Martulin, Troy Toney, Noah Persson, Sabina Murphy, Joey Murphy, Michele Santiago, Chelsea Orr, Ashley Newsome, Naudia Spivey and Eric Weimer.

They are assisted by parents Sabbrina Landers and Tammie Newsome.

gwin@vindy.com