With State Sen. Steve Rhoads' office, yarn and blanket drive to aid children with cancer

In an effort to give back to children undergoing chemotherapy treatments, State Sen. Steve Rhoads’ office has enlisted the help of community members in his district to give back to others through a Yarn & Blanket drive, where all donations will be given to We Care Blankets.

We Care Blankets is a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 on Long Island. Initially funded by a medical physician, the goal of the organization was to provide children with cancer something warm and comforting. During intense treatment for many cancers, a side affect is often chills. The founders of We Care Blankets sprang into action, and made colorful blankets, that serve as a gift to kids in hospitals.

Tammy Baker, the founder of We Care Blankets, who resides in Massapequa, said that while the organization has always donated blankets to local hospitals, it never had a permanent “home” to concentrate its efforts. About six years ago, the Merrick Library offered We Care Blankets a room, which has  helped the nonprofit.

“We had no room, and we never wrapped the blankets,” she explained. “We used to deliver them in big black trash bags.”

Now, We Care Blankets hosts “wrap nights,” usually about every other month at the library. It invites community members from all over to participate, as well as other volunteer organizations. In the library’s community room, volunteers will curate donation bags, each containing ten blankets. When all of the blankets are wrapped, they are brought out to volunteer’s cars, who will deliver them to hospitals.

In January, Rhoads stopped by a wrap night, and was impressed by the efforts of the organization. Looking for a way to help, his office organized a month-long drive.  Through May 10, residents in his district can drop off yarn and blankets to 12 locations including the North Bellmore Public Library; the Merrick Library; the North Merrick Public Library; the East Meadow Public Library; the Farmingdale Public Library; the Bethpage Public Library; the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library; the Island Trees Public Library; the Levittown Public Library; Needlepaint Nook in Merrick; JOANN Fabric & Crafts in Westbury; and Rhoads’ District Office on Merrick Road in Massapequa.

The drive officially kicked off April 10, during one of We Care Blanket’s wrap nights. Over 60 volunteers packed into the Merrick Library’s community room, and wrapped 620 blankets for children will illnesses.

“Each wrap is special,” Baker said at the wrap night last week, “but tonight it’s (extra) special. Senator Rhoads came to visit us at our last wrap, and he made the decision that he would like to help us and he had the idea of launching a yarn drive.”

Baker thanked every volunteer for participating and Rhoads’ office for helping make the kick off event possible. In the hopes that the 12 drop off bins will fill up over the next month, she added that there’ll be more wrap nights ahead to assemble all that’s donated.

“We’ll have more work,” she said, “but it’s all good work.”

Rhoads, who was unable to attend the event as he was in Albany working on the state’s budget, shared his thoughts on the evening through a virtual message.

“During intense (cancer) treatment, many children’s get chills, and the yarn and blankets collected will serve as a wonderful gift for each child,” he said. “All blankets serve as a gift of love and support, not only for the child, but for the family as well.”

Though the drive ends May 10, there are ways the community can support We Care Blankets. By donating acrylic yarn, funds, or their time — either at wrap nights, or by making blankets. Blankets must be at least 32-by-32-inches, but can be larger.

“It is a heartbreaking reality that many children have to endure such a difficult and painful journey fighting cancer at a young age,” Rhoads said. “While medical treatments are crucial in their fight against cancer, it is also important to provide them with love, comfort, and warmth during this chaotic time.”

To donate yarn, call (516) 769-5381. To donate funds, write a check payable to “We Care Blankets,” and mail it to Susan Berk, 11 Mechanic Court, Huntington, NY 11743 or Tammy Baker, 1407 Bucknell Drive, Massapequa, NY 11758.

For information on the drive, and specific addresses for donation locations, visit NYSenate.gov/senators/steven-d-rhoads. His office can also be reached at (516) 882-0630.

“Without caring volunteers, benefactors, and talented crafters we couldn’t fulfill this mission,” Baker said. “At We Care Blankets, our first love is children.”