Sunday, July 8, 2001
BINKY
Continued from Page 1
|
blanket pickups and deliveries throughout the area. "We consider everyone a volunteer," Miller said, from those who keep contact by e-mail, those who work alone and mail, deliver or call for pickup of their finished blankets, those who bake for fund-raisers, teach crochet or other classes, purchase or help with the newsletter, donate space for evenets, or those who attend the monthly meetings to complete the blankets together. "We really look for everything. We don't operate on a lot of money," Miller said.
"A lot of the volunteers we never meet," Miller said. They include senior citizens working alone or in groups who may provide finished blankets or 10 x 10 inch squares for others to piece together. The blaknets may be sewn, quilted, knotted, crocheted, knitted or other handwork. Safety is a concern as is wearability and easy laundering. No fringe is permitted and finished items are checked carefully for pins. they must be at least 36 inches square and may be as large as 40 by 60 inches. In knotted items, squre knots work best. Acrylic washable yarn is used.
"These are for use, not for looks," McNutt said. Despite that intent, many of the items are simply beautiful both in color and design. And for many of the children, a design that embodies their favorite sport team, hobby or cartoon charcter is matchless.
Generally, we don't see the kids," Miller said of the distribution of their items at domestic violence shelters and through Children Services and pregnancy centers in Stark, Carroll and Columbiana counties. But sometimes they do. Her witnessing the joy of two foster children picking out designs they likes was "the most heartwarming thing I've ever experienced."
"I've never seen a 2-year get so excited." she said of the boy's choice of a cowboy design. It was like I gave him the world or something. I cried when I left."
Miller also is moved by the community support of their efforts. "The community has really taken hold of what we do," she said. Helping Hands, a group at Malone College, instituted a friendly competetion as a campus project to make blankets for the group. Robertsville Crochet Club has gotten hooked. Homeworth Lions Club, New Franklin Ruritan and Louisville Junior Women are avid supporters, Fashion Bug has donated store space for bake sales in Carnantion Mall. The Countryside Chapel in Berlin mails blankets to Miller. Other groups are encouraged to assist. The Binky Patrol would like to be able to purchase supplies for those on limited incomes who make items. Two sewing machines have been donated and may be taken to centers for use there. Jones and others will teach classes in handwork. Speakers are available for programs at club meetings.
Children will be included in an opportunity to help at the Salem Jubille, where the Binky Patrol booth will offer plain fabric squares for 50 cents which can be decorated with special markers and later will be sewn into blankets for children. Gift baskets and certificates will also be offered.
In October, the main fund raiser - a Binkathon - will see blankets being made around the clock. With the exception of a donation to national headquarters to cover mailings, local donations are used locally. The chapter volunteers decide where the blankets will go. Recipients have included Stark County Foster Care, Canton and Alliance Domestic Violence Shelter, Christina House in Lisbon, Life Line Prenatal Clinic, Letonia, Colubiana Children Services, Alliance Pregnancy Center, Red Cross Disaster Relief and children battling chronic illness.
The effort is a double blessing for some groups. Scouts and other such organizations can earn badges and awards for their work on the blakets. One blanket equal four hours of community service credit. Some of the members will be teaching residents of a Stark County's women's correctional facility so their community service requirements will benefit the children.
Begun in California in 1995 as a Make a Difference effort, the Binky Patrol has grown to more than 150 chapters which have delivered more than 70,000 blankets. The national website is www.binkypatrol.org. Locally visit www.geocities.com/minervabinky. The Minerva chapter is interested in expanding and will consider other meeting sites throughout the area if there is enough interest. Presently, the low-key meetings, where some come just to get out for the evening, are held 6-8 pm the third Friday of each month at the United Methodist Church, 204 North Main Street, Minerva. July's meeting was moved to the 13th to prepare for the Salem Jubilee.
The blanket making is an ongoing process. "One of the good things about this is you set your own pace and what you come up with, you come up with," said member Marge Warrick of Minerva.
The Binky Patrol is more than happy to do their part to warm the world. Still, they look forward to a day when it is not such a cold place for so many children. Says Miller, "We wish there was no need for us."
|