FITCHBURG - When Jamie Zimmerman saw a Facebook post from her sister Jennifer Scace, a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, explaining that patients there needed blankets, the lack of response bothered her.
The 2005 Monroe High School graduate decided to advertise the need in Madison, and was suddenly inundated with donations of fabric, new blankets and even gift cards to craft stores.
It wasn't long before Blankets for Kids was born, a group that has mostly received attention through its Facebook page. After just a couple of weeks, Zimmerman has delivered 24 blankets to Mercy Hospital, and has another 35 ready to go.
Zimmerman's mother, Lynn, lives in Monroe. An avid quilter, Lynn has donated fleece for the project. She has been both impressed and inspired by the number of people who have become involved.
"It's amazing to see so many people open up their hearts," Lynn said.
As a certified nursing assistant for the University of Wisconsin-Madison hospitals and clinics, Zimmerman is familiar with the hospital environment. She knows how itchy and uncomfortable some hospital blankets can be. Receiving something soft, like fleece, can often be comforting for patients.
"Some kids have to be in the
hospital for months on end and their families can't always be with them all the time," Zimmerman said. "It seems small - but a blanket is a huge piece of comfort for a kid."
Taking things even further, Zimmerman tries accommodating children who want specific blanket styles. Her Facebook page touts many different designs and styles, from puppy prints to sports and other popular characters. She does her best to get them what they want, and enjoys the making simpler fleece tie blankets because they come in a variety of designs and colors.
A Sun Prairie-based Girl Scout Troop worked one evening for the cause, donating 12 blankets to those in need. Each blanket takes about 45 minutes to make.
"My ideal hope is every child who is really sick can go home with a blanket," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman is looking to spread the word about the group, and anyone who would like to donate, help make or distribute blankets can reach out to her through the Facebook page, or contact her mother, Lynn Zimmerman at 608-214-6464.
The 2005 Monroe High School graduate decided to advertise the need in Madison, and was suddenly inundated with donations of fabric, new blankets and even gift cards to craft stores.
It wasn't long before Blankets for Kids was born, a group that has mostly received attention through its Facebook page. After just a couple of weeks, Zimmerman has delivered 24 blankets to Mercy Hospital, and has another 35 ready to go.
Zimmerman's mother, Lynn, lives in Monroe. An avid quilter, Lynn has donated fleece for the project. She has been both impressed and inspired by the number of people who have become involved.
"It's amazing to see so many people open up their hearts," Lynn said.
As a certified nursing assistant for the University of Wisconsin-Madison hospitals and clinics, Zimmerman is familiar with the hospital environment. She knows how itchy and uncomfortable some hospital blankets can be. Receiving something soft, like fleece, can often be comforting for patients.
"Some kids have to be in the
hospital for months on end and their families can't always be with them all the time," Zimmerman said. "It seems small - but a blanket is a huge piece of comfort for a kid."
Taking things even further, Zimmerman tries accommodating children who want specific blanket styles. Her Facebook page touts many different designs and styles, from puppy prints to sports and other popular characters. She does her best to get them what they want, and enjoys the making simpler fleece tie blankets because they come in a variety of designs and colors.
A Sun Prairie-based Girl Scout Troop worked one evening for the cause, donating 12 blankets to those in need. Each blanket takes about 45 minutes to make.
"My ideal hope is every child who is really sick can go home with a blanket," Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman is looking to spread the word about the group, and anyone who would like to donate, help make or distribute blankets can reach out to her through the Facebook page, or contact her mother, Lynn Zimmerman at 608-214-6464.