Hosparus Health Caremaker - Sew, knit or crochet care blankets for patients

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Support seriously ill patients by donating hand made blankets. Care blankets provide comfort and support to adult patients in our hospice and palliative programs.

The ideal size for blankets is about 3’ x 4’, covering the width of a hospital bed, or in the patient’s lap. The larger the blanket is, the harder it is for a patient to use. We’d rather serve more patients with 2 lap blankets than 1 full size blanket.

Crochet, knit, or quilted blankets are accepted. Contributions must be clean, in new condition and from a non-smoking environment, with no perfumes or other scents of any kind. Please use caution if you have pets - materials and finished goods must be free from pet hair and smells. It’s fine to wash the blankets before you deliver to us, but avoid scented detergent or fabric softeners. We won't be able to use items that don't meet these criteria.

We are not accepting fleece tied blankets. It’s acceptable to use fleece or flannel in a blanket with a sewn edge.

For crochet or knit blankets, a pattern or mix of colors is ideal, rather than one solid color. We serve male and female patients, so please consider bright or neutral colors.

We have an ongoing need for blankets for veterans, in patriotic colors or fabrics. For veterans in our care, we offer a veteran’s recognition visit made by a volunteer who is also a veteran. A certificate of recognition and a patriotic care blanket is presented to the veteran. Typically, a patient’s loved ones attend this ceremony, as it may be the final formal recognition a veteran will receive before their death. Whether it’s for a veteran, or any patient, the care blanket becomes a loving keepsake for the patient’s loved one after they pass.

Our care blanket makers and other contributors of handmade goods are included in our volunteer program as CareMakers. We will ask for your contact information or you can submit a volunteer application online to create your profile. The time spent making and number of blankets donated will be recorded in your volunteer account. Each year, thousands of hours of cost savings are contributed to our organization by the time spent making care blankets and other handmade goods.