Happy New Year everyone!! This year is going to be an exciting one, I can feel it in my bones. Last year we had such an amazing response to Operation Blanket Drop that we have decided to extend it to this year as well. We have already received almost 100 blankets. My Aunt Pam and the choir group she sings with is already up and running with this project. We have had all kinds of donations so far and there is even one young man who is hoping he can do his Eagle Project with us/ for us. He is waiting on approval from the board. I am praying they will allow this to be Eagle Project worthy.
For those who are new to our blog and project let me fill you in quickly. First we make and donate blankets to hospitals for still born and fetal demise babies and their families. These blankets are for the families to help with the healing process associated with the loss of a baby. We accept new blankets only. They can be store bought or hand made which ever you choose. The sizes vary we take 10"x10" all the way up to crib size. Babies are born at all stages and range in size. If you would like to donate please contact us (Jess and Joleen at jjhaag5@yahoo.com) and we will send you the mailing info or if you live here in Utah (along the Wasatch Front) where you can drop them off. Each blanket needs to be in their own ziplock type bag to help keep them clean and also so we can write on the bag the size of blanket and that it is for still born/ fetal demise babies.
For those who are returning from last year we have made a few changes as to how we are doing things this year. First, we are not going to wait until Ammon's birthday to take the blankets to hospitals. As we get enough blankets to donate we will take them and drop them off. Second, we have stocked most of the local hospitals for the year (if not several years) so we may be taking the blankets to other hospitals outside of the Wasatch Front. And last, please email us your picture with your blanket for our blog if you so desire and if you have a story to share with us please do and we will feature your story here on the blog. You can choose to remain anonymous or you can give your name we don't mind either way. Sometimes sharing your story will help someone else to heal or give them the faith and courage to keep moving forward. We love to hear all of your stories even if you don't want them shared here, please do share with us. The best part of receiving a blanket is when it comes with a story. If it's okay to share your story/ experience just let us know otherwise we will keep it private.
And last-- we have had so many people ask us about hospitals and which hospitals the blankets are going too. It is a process and it is very time consuming to find and contact hospitals who want the blankets. Most hospitals are so excited about the blankets but not all have storage capacity. This means that one hospital may be able to handle storing 50 blankets while another can handle 200 or 500. Most hospitals can handle 50 to 100 blankets it's the trauma hospitals (usually the bigger ones) that can handle more. We appreciate all input and suggestions. And we love, Love, LoVe, LOVE taking these blankets to hospitals but we do have to consider their needs and try not to overwhelm them with blankets as well.
Thank you for all of your help with this project and we are hoping to be able to take more blankets this year to more hospitals.
Much Love,
Jess and Joleen Haag
jjhaag5@yahoo.com
