The Month for Thanksgiving.....

November is typically the month we all begin to think about what we are thankful for!  The BPSC is always so very thankful for all of you who keep us going.  We so appreciate all that you do and we would not be able to carry on without you!

We have delivered almost 100 items this year to NICU's, individuals and shelters as well as children's homes.  With cooler months ahead, our needs will grow and we hope to keep up with them.  Watch our progress on www.BPSC.CO where we have links to our Flickr, FaceBook and more.  We also try to post pics of each items we receive.

Send us an email if you would like to be involved.  There are many different ways to help and even if you can't sew, crochet or knit, there is still much that you can do.  We are always in need of help delivering and it can only take a few minutes to make a big difference.  We hope to hear from you at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com!!

Spring is Around the Corner Again....

It is that time of year again when flowers start to peek out in bloom and the trees finally start getting their leaves back....at least here in the South.  Many think this time of year signals a time when we don't need blankets as much as in the winter....not true!  We have a need for blankets all year long and most especially for the youngest that we serve - babies.

There are also needs for children who are ill and hospitalized.  A blanket is a warm reminder that others care about what they are going through and something that is their own.  Many times a blanket can make the difference with a frightened child who is experiencing a trauma in his or her life - these come in every season and time of year.

One of our favorite projects are the preemies.  One of the NICU Nurse Manager's at one of the hospitals we service tells us that having small blankets on hand for the parents to pick out for their preemie, gives them a little bit of control in what is a very out of control situation and very stressful.  Something as small as 20 X 20 can make a huge difference for these parents and also becomes a keepsake for the family and the baby.  Small soft hats are also a wonderful thing to have on hand because even the smallest usually get a hat.  These can be 4-5 inches wide and 4-5 inches long made from any soft stretchy yarn or fabric such as fleece.

This past year was a really good one for our chapter and we are so proud of the efforts of all of our volunteers.  We were able to get out over 100 preemie blankets to the NICU's, quilts and blankets to both New Jersey and New York in the aftermath of Sandy, items to Ronald McDonald House as well as Palmetto Richland Children's Hospital, Dickerson Children's Center, Daybreak Pregnancy Crisis Center and so much more.  Join in and help us - there is much to do and we can always use more hands in our efforts.  Even if you are not crafty, there are many ways to help!  Email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com or visit our web site at www.BPSC.CO.

Small Steps......

I so love this graphic provided by Peek-A-Boo ICU.  It really brings home the reality of preemies.  2012 was a very busy year for us here at the Binky Patrol SC and preemies were a huge part of our goal for the year.

While we do many things for kids and young adults of all ages, preemies remain close to our hearts.  Our Quilter Angel, Anita Black, made sure we had them covered during the Christmas season with her annual Christmas Preemie Quilt Drive.  We delivered over 100 preemie quilts here in Columbia to Palmetto Health Richland and Palmetto Health Baptist.  Anita delivered about 60 to Presbyterian Hemby Children's Hospital.  We are so very excited to be able to provide items for local NICU's and we hope to continue these deliveries throughout the year - so exciting!!

We also made deliveries to the Dickerson Center in West Columbia, Families Helping Families and we were able to send out bags of binkies to both New Jersey and New York for Hurricane Sandy Victims.  We hope to send another batch to them soon.

We have been following a sweet young man, Richard, who is battling an inoperable brain stem tumor.  His Mom and twin sister along with older brother have touched our hearts and we keep them close in thoughts and prayers.  Please stop by and say hello to them and keep them in your hearts.  You can follow Richard at Richard's Journey on FaceBook.

For 2013, we have many projects lined up and we can use all of the help we can muster.  We are working on boys items for the Boys Home of the South, scarves and hats for Transitions here in Columbia, preemie hats for the NICUs and so much more.  Please email us if you would like to get involved.  There is much to do!  Our email is binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com and we would love to hear from you.  Help us help kids in need!  Our small steps to help can make a huge difference in a child's life.