Binky Patrol enjoys helping

March 11, 2008 at 1:10a.m.

Each blanket has a special design and function to match its recipient.

YOUNGSTOWN — Yarn, a crochet hook or set of knitting needles and a little energy are all it takes for members of the volunteer group Binky Patrol to show they care.

Since 2003, the loosely organized group of about 15 women has been crocheting and knitting blankets to provide a bit of comfort for infants, veterans and the terminally ill.

In all, the group has produced about 1,200 blankets, or “binkies,” a term used by toddlers. Each one comes attached with a prayer card.

“We’re just a group of women who wanted to do something nice for someone,” said founder Joanne Brown, a Poland resident.

Youngstown’s Binky Patrol began as a Lenten project with members from a variety of churches throughout the area, said Brown.

“We decided that it’s good to give money and it’s good to pray, but we’ve got to do things for people,” she said. “We had so much fun together, we decided to stay together.”

Each week, the group meets at the Sterling House nursing home in the city’s Cornersburg area to share news and friendly words, all the while stitching. The camaraderie the group shares is not an entirely unintended consequence.

Founders originally decided to have group meetings at a nursing home to provide companionship and an occupation for the elderly and for those house-bound. The objective was to get the women out of the rooms and out from in front of the TV, Brown said.

Today, some of the bigger contributors work only from home. Health conditions keep them at home, but they are not helpless.

The majority of the group, however, is able-bodied. They enjoy helping others and say there’s something relaxing about their craft.

“This is how I get through the evening news and the game shows,” said Pat Spisak of Boardman.

Many of the women spend long hours crocheting or knitting at home and contribute their own money to the cost of yarn, although most of the group’s supplies are donated. Beverly Poidmore, 71, of Boardman said she logged 1,500 hours last year stitching for this group and others.

Poidmore arrived at Thursday’s meeting with a stockpile of blankets. Each has a special design and function intended to match the recipient. The red, white and blue lap robe is for the veterans. A soft-fabric infant-sized blanket is for the newborns at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

In most cases, members of Binky Patrol never meet their recipients. But now and again they can tell their efforts are appreciated.

“I took 23 blankets up to the VA clinic,” Poidmore said. “They just get tears in their eyes that someone cares about them.”

For member Kathy Nemergut of Youngstown, there’s satisfaction in helping others, even if you never get to see the result.

“It’s nice to do something for people, even if you don’t know them,” said Nemergut. “It makes you feel good.”

aschmitt@vindy.com