Maybe you're new around here and don't know about my annual blanket project.
Maybe you've been around a while but figured you had plenty of time to act.
Either way, I'm here to tell you that I need your help and time is running out!
Brief synopsis: Every school year I teach an after school knitting program to kids in 2nd-4th grades. They learn to knit and finish squares that are pieced together into blankets, which I then raffle off and give all proceeds to a local program that provides Christmas presents for families in need.
Now, last year some really cool things happened to shake up my annual routine that I must tell you about!
First of all, instead of my usual year-long club-type approach to the after school program, I taught 7 or 8 shorter sessions in two different schools. This not only allowed me to teach more kids than usual, but it also really inspired those kids to keep the needles moving...even at home! I was absolutely blown away by the number of squares they whipped up for me every week.
My average during the previous three years had been around 50-60 squares by the end of the school year, enough to put together one large blanket. Last year, between the two schools, all those programs, and a small stack of squares I had leftover from the previous year, I found myself with around 120 squares come May!
Wow. Way to go, guys!!!
Such big work out of kids who could still count their age on their fingers called for a bigger charitable gesture. So I thought about it, and talked to the kids in the last few classes, and came up with a plan.
We decided that the usual big blanket was really just too big and heavy, and the number of squares I was getting was coincidentally just the right amount for four smaller blankets. Lap blankets, if you will. And since I had two schools, and had kept track of which squares were from which school, I would put together two blankets for each school.
At one school, the blankets were donated to the Summit County Children's Services. A wonderful lady came to accept the blankets and talk to the kids about how Children's Services helps kids who need it, and she talked to them about how they wanted the blankets to be used. They decided the blankets should be used in the visitation rooms so that the blankets could bring comfort to one child after another, year after year.
Still with me? Good! Because here's were I need your help!
The two blankets from the other school are at River City, ready to support the Share-a-Christmas program once again, and time is almost up! Tickets are available at the register at $1 for one or 6 for $5, and the drawing will be held next Thursday, December 8th! Two blankets means two winners, and both winners will have a new option.
You see, the winner(s) this year may be able to help two causes! Obviously, the winners may choose to keep their prizes - they are so fun and comfy and warm, after all! But maybe they have plenty of blankets of their own and really just wanted an excuse to help out the cause, and that's okay, too. If that is the case, I will glady donate their prize(s) to Children's Services on their behalf.
And one more way you can help: share this post in any way you can before the deadline!!! Be it mass email, Facebook sharing, or Twitter feed...the more people who know about this raffle, the more chances there are for families in need to have a joyous holiday.
Thank you!!!
