Community pulls through to collect gifts for residents
A few of the many people who were involved with collecting blankets for Christmas for nursing home residents.
It’s going to be a good Christmas for all the nursing home residents in Tuscarawas County. This year’s Share-A-Christmas program included a seemingly unachievable project — collecting more than 1,000 blankets and lap blankets to gift to those residents.
There was a lot of coordination needed to make the project materialize. Share-A-Christmas representatives contacted nursing homes, area sewing groups and other organizations to get everyone involved. Others, in turn, contacted the T-4-C to get involved.
“This is our 49th year for Share-A-Christmas, but to my knowledge, this is the first time we’ve ever done anything in the nursing homes,” said Leslie Booth, T-4-C director. “The community has been wonderful. It is just the outpouring. People were amazing, how they brought stuff in and worked together.”
There are too many individuals, businesses and organizations that helped with the project to mention.
In the end 1,005 blankets were donated to nursing home residents living in the county. Along with their blanket, each also will receive a word puzzle book or devotional.
Volunteers sorted the blankets needed for each home, ensuring no two alike blankets were sent to the same home. There were so many designs: crocheted, knitted, tied and store-bought. All will add up to a merry Christmas.
Share-A-Christmas is a program for all ages.
“A lot of people don’t realize that, and we just felt the need for people in the nursing home, that there was something that we needed to do,” Booth said. “A lot of them don’t have family. A lot of them don’t get to see people on the outside. It’s something we needed to do, and it’s a way of giving back.”
The project was started in September with not a lot of time to get organized, but with the help of everyone, the goal was met.
“We’ve had so many different sewing groups come forward. Different organizations have donated. We’ve had schools participate, businesses, board members. The community has really come together to help put this together,” Booth said.
“There’s just a little bit of everything you’ve got there; it’s a sea of different patterns,” said Jane Wortman, co-chair of this year’s Share-A-Christmas efforts. “People are just going to love these. It’s nice to have that extra warmth.”
Organizers feel the residents will be happy to know they are not forgotten on Christmas.
The blankets came in all types of materials, colors, fleece and fabrics, and some are sewn, some quilted, some knitted, and some crocheted and hand tied.
“They came in all different sizes, which is nice too because some people can’t sit in wheelchairs, so they would have a nice, pretty cover for their bed,” Wortman said.
Volunteers recently met to begin sorting and delivering the blankets. The organization also is collecting items for the elderly including personal hygiene products, toiletries and body washes.
Any blankets left over from the collection will be delivered to elderly still living at home who may be shut in or not have a family.
Overall, Share-A-Christmas helped a total of 1,945 individuals this year including children and adults and will send 1,005 blankets to nursing homes. Toys are given to children age 1-10, and adults can receive a food basket and gift cards.
Crystal Hartline, office assistance coordinator for the T-4-C, is pleased the blanket project has come together.
“When I first heard about this project, I wondered if they could really do it because it seems like a big undertaking in just such a short amount of time, I was a little concerned,” Hartline said. “But the community pulled through though, and they got it done.”