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Saint Francis University Blanketeers Collect Record Number of Blankets

255 beautiful blankets will be distributed to sick and needy young children

Loretto, PA (04/08/2019) — The Saint Francis University Community Blanketeer group recently collected 255 beautiful quilted, crocheted, knitted, and embroidered blankets that will be distributed to sick and needy children through the Healing Patch, Nurse-Family Partnership (Home Nursing Agency), and local hospitals. The group has been active on campus since 2006, and over the past twelve years has donated more than 1,845 blankets to local children in need in Cambria and Blair Counties and surrounding areas.

Each year the blanketeers focus on creating comfy, soft blankets for babies and young children. Thanks to local community blanketeers from Altoona, Cresson, Ebensburg, Johnstown, Loretto, Patton, and Portage for contributing to this year's blanket collection.

Over the past few years, the Healing Patch has distributed the blankets in "comfort bags" along with various other items (i.e. tissues, a memory book, a picture frame, a teddy bear, etc.) to children following the death of a loved one. Additionally, the blankets have been distributed to Healing Patch participants during program activities centered around fears, worries, sleeping issues, etc. and sent home to provide comfort during the difficulties and isolation throughout the nighttime hours which is a common struggle for many young children during illness or following the death of a loved one.

Providing free, comprehensive educational, homecare, and mentoring services to first-time mothers, Nurse-Family Partnership® registered nurses will distribute blankets to newborns and toddlers within the program. These special blankets will be used for warm swaddling, tummy play time, and creating cozy snuggles with Mom or Dad.

The Saint Francis University blanketeer group was formed by Dr. Robin L. Cadwallader, Professor of English/ Communications and Women's Studies, and Dr. Margaret A. Kealey, Associate Professor of Business/Finance, with the assistance of Ms. Melita O'Donnell, Executive Assistant/Academic Affairs.

Thank you to Mary Hoover, Sherri Link, Devin Mazeika, Anna Baughman, Spencer McElheny, John (Jack) Weidner, and Alyssa Mallin for sewing the blanketeer tags on each blanket. It is through the generous efforts of so many individuals that this year's blanket collection was by far the most successful yet.

Media Attachments

Pictured: Lois Schultz, Cambria County Nurse Family Practitioner Supervisor; (Very Rev.) Malachi Van Tassel, T.O.R., Ph.D., University President; Jacqueline Mazeika, Alyssa Mallin, Jack Weidner, Anna Baughman, Dr. Robin Cadwallader, Melita O’Donnell, Gabrielle Cronin, and Melody Ray, Home Nursing Agency Volunteer Coordinator/Grief Specialist.

Blankets are quilted, crocheted, knitted, and embroidered and each have a sewn in Blanketeers tag.

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