Wilma Deese -- a resident at the time -- came up with the idea last year to do a community service activity at Village North Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Toni Pagano of Hugs for Kids came to Village North and gave a workshop on how to take fleece, cut the edges and knot it to make cozy blankets.
Each blanket costs $10-$15 to make, so a fund-raising dinner of soups and salads donated by staff and residents was held. A fishbowl set out to collect stray pennies netted $72. The VFW gave $50. As the colorful blankets began to take shape, visitors and residents of Village North even donated their own money or material. They raised about $750.
"Besides having the opportunity to give back to the community and feel good about what we were doing, we found that making the blankets helped with motor activity and socialization," says Mistee Balmann, activities director. "Making the blankets had a lot of therapeutic value."
Balmann and retirement living resident Evelyn Marienau presented the blankets to the staff at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Hugs for Kids is a non-profit organization based in St. Louis. Its mission is to provide fleece blankets to hospitalized children who are in need of reassurance, love and an extra "hug" of support.
Ten more blankets now sit in a colorful pile waiting to be delivered. The "Grandmas" hope to reach their goal this year of 100 blankets -- and 100 smiles on children's faces.
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