weighted blanket project

Diane Westphal Newman is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Today at swimming we were talking about the GoFundMe project.

A mom chimed in that she had 4 sons. One had an older weighted blanket and that her other son tries to use it too. She would like to get him one but they cost $200.00 online. Kelly from Catch the Wave said "Diane makes them" She said she didn't have any money for one. I said "That is where the GoFundMe project can help you." You can have a FREE blanket for your other son".

So this afternoon after I finish a custom order for a little girl I will start on a FREE boy blanket. The neat thing is his birthday is in a couple of weeks. What a pleasure to be able to help this boy, his mom and this family with a FREE blanket.

Thank you for allowing me to PAY IT FORWARD. It is the BEST feeling there is for ME!!!!!!

Thank you so much for ALL the donations so far !!!!!!

This is how it works.....A therapist (that I work with) or myself lets a family try a weighted blanket. If the child likes it and it helps comfort them in a calming way or helps them sleep at night they will either keep the sample blanket or I will make a new one for them (hence the photo-they requested one with OWLS).

It takes 5 hours to make a blanket.
Cut the beanbags, sew the beanbags, stuff the beanbags and sew them shut. Sew the blanket, add the beanbags, sew the blanket and finish it with ribbon tags.

I try to have beanbags ready to stuff with the different weights. I try to have poly pellets on hand to stuff the beanbags. I try to have material for boys, girls or material that would work for either. Or I must go to the fabric store and find what will work (worse part of the job - just kidding).

I have ALWAYS donated my time to the project so I can make them for cost $30.00 - $40.00 a blanket. (They cost $100 or more online) But I realized after 200 blankets I have had to service my machine twice and I do try to give families blankets if they work for their children and can't afford one.

I LOVE this project. When parent tell me their child LOVES the blanket and they are sleeping better at night (which allows the parents to sleep better) it makes the project a SUCCESS. But better than that is the pictures I receive of the child with their blanket.