Friday night my home and the homes of several of my friends were turned into blanket factories. An initiative called Operation Blankie has been started to get warm soft blankets to every elementary-aged child who was displaced by the flood. I sent out an email asking for fabric, machines and time to be donated and within 24 hours we had a dozen flannel and fleece blankets packed up and ready to go. I was so glad to finally have a justification for all the fabric I’ve been hording. I’m sure Dan’s happy that I bought so much when it was on sale for $1/yard.
Thank you to everyone who donated money to help with flood relief. I know that many of you donated through the Red Cross and the United Way. Nearly 60 of you also sent money directly to me which I used to purchase a few specific items for people in need and so far $1800 in Home Depot gift certificates, K-Mart gift certificates, and Visa gift cards. I took them down this weekend.
On Saturday Dan and I had the best date ever, a full day rolling around in the mud in small town Washington. A friend volunteered to take both kids for 12 hours so Dan and I could drive down and work. Dan’s usually quite the dainty computer guy so it was fun to see him get down with his dirty side.
We spent most of the day removing belongings from an older man’s basement. The entire basement had been filled and a couple of feet into the main floor. Years of antiques, tools, documents and photos were damaged, some beyond recognition.
Luckily the fabulous Mary had emailed me offering to volunteer her time to clean and restore photos damaged in the flood. 
She was already working on some from a family Dan had helped the week before and she kindly took Bob’s stack of WWII photos and wedding pictures. This project will likely take her hours… weeks… months to complete.
Watching everyone jump in to help these strangers has given me spirit, real Christmas spirit for the first time in years. I have cried more than I’d like to admit as I’ve received donations and offers of time and skills.
I honestly sort of fell into this project and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done because it’s involved a small amount of effort from me and the huge reward of sitting back and watching people exercise compassion. Thank you so much for giving me this gift.
If you’d still like to donate, please consider sending money to the Red Cross or the United Way who continues to provide support and relief from their temporary headquarters in Chehalis.
You have done some good. Thank you for caring enough to do something for those people that are in so much need right now.
I am sure those blankets are going to be greatly appreciated and a comfort to those kids.
Woo-hoo! I actually get to DELIVER some of those blankets on Tuesday to an elementary school! I’ll try to get you some pictures (if I can to it without being completely insensitive).
Thanks so muck–er, much–kathryn!
I’m so proud of you! What a wonderful thing you’ve done. Those poor little kiddies needing blankies -makes this pregnant mommy tear up.
Thank Goodness for the Daring Young Mom.
Your Internet-al BFF 🙂
Thank you so much for doing this. I’m glad that we could help if only in a small way.
I started to cry when I got to the part about Dan’s photos. God bless you guys.
Wow, Big WOW. Sure love you. Thanks for sharing and caring.
Kathryn-email me NOW with an address please! I have blankets that I can ship tomorrow, just tell me where!
wow wow wow…i don’t know what else to say. amazing
I’m proud of you, Sweetie. Isn’t it miraculous how much we are blessed when we expend effort for others? The Lord is good!
what an amazing project! it’s funny, a few weeks ago, i had a very vivid dream where i made blankets and stuffed animals to donate…it was only a dream but, yet, it was so real! and…this is exactly what it was for…displaced children. now i know i have a place to send the ones i make, when i make them!!!!
take care and good job!
I cried when I read this. In such a good way. Thanks for doing this, Kathryn.
I’m speechless. Way to go, both of you.
I linked to you today. The pictures you have shown are amazing and heartbreaking. Good work.
Thank you for doing such wonderful work. I am sure that everyone whom you have touched is very greatful.
This just makes me cry. It is so heartbreaking. I have not even heard about the flooding except through your site.
I couldn’t imagine looking at that basement and wanting to clean it. Finding the energy to clean it.
But we actually have gone through flooding of our basement, including all of our wedding photos and my children’s baby books. We saved the pictures, though they are not perfect, but the baby books are gone. You get through.