The start of a new blanket. (Submitted Photo)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Comfort Blankets

Sew, knit or crochet, it’s all about comfort

Sep 7, 2024 | 8:00 AM

The inspiration came out of the most tragic of circumstances.

“We saw the need for something for these parents while they were grieving a loss,” said Dacie Matchett, founder of Prairie Blankets for Angels Sask.

The organization began three years ago in Regina and in the beginning, they focused on providing what they termed “Angel Blankets” for local hospitals.

The idea was a simple one. Volunteers who knit, sew, crochet or quilt make blankets on their own and send them on to the organization’s administration teams to be distributed to those facing the worst moments of their lives.

Two years ago, Barb Kirby was knitting toques. As someone who likes to volunteer her time, she knit so many of them, she had no idea what to do with them.

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“I donated all my toques that I knit – I sent over 50 of them to the cancer clinic in Saskatoon and I kept some local,” said the Battlefords-based knitter.

After putting her needles away for a time, a colleague of hers told her about the group and it left her intrigued, especially after learning about one particular aspect of the group. She explained volunteering is for everyone and for those who can’t afford to buy material all the time, the organization has put a plan in place.

“You buy the wool, you knit your first blanket, and you donate it,” said Kirby.

From there, after the initial donation, the organization will supply the wool for blankets to the volunteers.

“So, you’re really buying the wool for one blanket.”

Now, acting as an administrator for the new Battlefords chapter, she and her colleague are working to build up the group.

“We’re trying to figure out how to explore and how to expand on that and how to get blankets coming in,” she said.

Matchett said last year they had a “surge of volunteers” and were able to donate 1,500 Angel Blankets out to the maternity ward and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), they wanted to switch the focus to another cause.

The Comfort Blanket was created as a way to help children going into foster care, are in crisis or entering women’s shelters navigate what may be a traumatic situation.

“I’ve seen the need on both sides,” she said, adding that she’s also received positive feedback from the hospital and child protective services.

“Some of the time, these kids are coming in with nothing and coming out of a bad situation so, it’s something that they’re given to help them get comfort,” she said.

“Or it’s something that they are given when they don’t have anything else…it’s something that they know that they’re going to be able to take with them if they have to move to a new foster home, it’s something that is theirs.”

For her part, Kirby said now that the summer is coming to a close, more creators will start to reach out.

“It’s more of like a winter, cozy thing right, that you do sitting by your fireplace,’ she said, noting she would be interested in developing knitting circles, or getting organizations or schools involved.

“I’m open to whatever people want to do to make this work,” she said, noting people are just encouraged to come out and create kindness.

“Whether it’s to the child that’s going into the system…or the old lady that’s in the district care home that has no family, and you bring them a blanket, it’s a comfort thing.”

Currently, the organization has over 250 volunteers across not only the province but North America and is now based in 11 communities throughout Saskatchewan.

For more information, visit: Prairie Blankets for Angels Sask. on Facebook.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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