Blanket Norwich with Love 2010

Once more the Reminder Newspaper has placed news of the Leffingwell House Museum and the Society of the Founders Blanket Collection prominently thanks to this wonderful article by reporter Karen Butera.

The temperature is hot right now but in a few weeks there will be a seasonal chill in the air regardless of where you live. So if you are local please bring your blankets to the Leffingwell House Museum and if you are not in the local area, please contact your local soup kitchens, shelters and animal rescues and pounds to learn how your donations of towels and blankets can provide warmth this winter.

Please distribute Our Blanket Drive flyers to your friends, co-workers or church group. They are available here:

Norwich: 08/06/2010
Blanket Norwich with Love: Leffingwell collects blankets BY Karen Butera, Staff Writer, Reminder Press

Blankets and warmth are something that most of us have access to. However, due to one reason or another, there are many people that do not have what we take for granted. In these tough economic times, many are homeless, due to layoffs and other circumstances beyond their control.

To help out, the Society of the Founders of Norwich, in conjunction with Leffingwell House Museum will be collecting blankets for the second year in a row for their "Blanket Norwich with Love" collection drive. For their first year, the museum and members of the Founders collected and distributed 868 blankets.

"This is our second year collecting," said Volunteer Coordinator of the museum, Beryl Fishbone. Many organizations around town were recipients of the donations. Along with clean blankets, they are also collecting clean, gently used or new towels that will once again go to Saint Vincent de Pauls and the Norwich Shelter for their shower facility.

"We are not at all proud. We will happily take anything people bring in, as long as it is clean, said Fishbone. If we dont know of a use, we have been able to find one simply by asking," she said. Even if someone says they can't use it, they usually know of someone that can.

"All donations need to be clean. We want good, and not so good. We have homes for it all, and sadly well still have need for more after the collection and distribution," said Fishbone. Used towels with stains are okay, and will be used for animal shelters. Used stained baby receiving blankets are just the right size for small dogs and cats. "We can use sleeping bags too, especially the type that can be used outdoors," she said.

The types of blankets that they are looking for are thin, washable twin size blankets, including quilts, spreads and throws, and all will be put to good use.

Drop off yourdonations to the Museum, 348 Washington St., Norwich, from 12 noon to 4 p. m. on Saturdays in August. They will accept donations all year, but their push time is August, before the cold weather sets in. To drop off at another time, phone 860-889-9440.

Fishbone encourages, "Please do not hesitate to set-up a collection box in your office or business."