Who knew, A Blanket
The KJOL Blanket Drive
It was just over three years ago that I realized a simple piece of cloth could make a difference in someone’s life. I always viewed blankets as something that was simply utilitarian with no frills….like finger nail clippers, like a pair of socks, or a toaster…something with a purpose that is tossed when it wears out.
Then, my 2 year old daughter got really sick. A nasty onset of Type 1 Diabetes ended her up at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was about to take a fast helicopter ride to Children’s in Denver; and the flight staff was concerned… telling my wife to prepare herself for the worst. Before the flight departed, she was covered with a handmade white flannel tie-blanket at St. Mary’s…a gift to our hurting little girl. I burned rubber on a prayer filled I-70 ride to meet Ellie and her mom at Children’s Hospital; and by the time I arrived several hours later, Ellie had received another flannel, this time a pink tie-blanket. She was covered with that pink blanket when the intensive care nurse told me she thought she would be okay. She wore that blanket for two weeks of care in the hospital…and she wore that same pink blanket last night. Ellie is now 5 and still loves that blanket. The white tie blanket became our next child’s favorite…and she uses it nightly as well.
A blanket can provide a strange sense of comfort when we are sick, when we are cold, or when we are hurting inside. And that is why in our efforts to serve Christ and His Kingdom, our next project at KJOL is to collect blankets for children who are hurting…this time specifically, who have been victims of abuse or witnessed serious trauma. Starting Monday, through the rest of the month, we are asking you to drop off new or handmade blankets at our studios.
They will end up being gifted to hurting children to comfort them at the time of their legal interview process at the Western Slope Center For Children in Mesa County and the Dolphin House in Montrose County (also serving Delta County). And while these locations are not our usual Christian-ran ministries that we normally try to lift up, these two groups are equipped, able, and in the unique position to work with these kids in this capacity. And really, in the end, we do it for our Lord Jesus. Send them with a prayer.
We need both girls and boys blankets. The Dolphin House especially is low on blankets for boys. Perhaps a church group might like to build a few tie-blankets, or a retiree might crochet one, or a working family might take their kids to pick one or two out from the store. And there are lots of DIY blanket patterns and instructions online, with several weeks to build one or deliver one to the station. If you are out of town and have a hard time getting to GJ, just let me know. We will do our very best to make arrangements to get those one way or another.
Would you be able to help? Thanks for your consideration.
-Dave Andrews, KJOL Station Manager
Join Our Newsletter
Newsletter Signup
