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.
