Local volunteers make 100 blankets
for needy

More than 40 Mukilteo women and teen volunteers took part in a recent "Sewing Extravaganza" to create flannel receiving blankets for newborn babies.

The event, held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) on Harbour Pointe Boulevard, was planned by members of the congregation's women's group, The Relief Society.

Working with 12 sewing machines, five ironing boards and 250 yards of flannel, the women set a goal to make 100 blankets in about two hours.

According to Event Organizer Connie Carey, the idea for the activity came to her after reading about a similar project in a church magazine.

"It really touched my heart," Carey said. "I thought this was something we could do here."

The blankets will be sent to the LDS Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and from there will be distributed wherever there is a need in the world. Carey said blankets from similar projects have been sent to Oregon, California, Florida, the Ukraine, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, Kenya, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Granada, and Peru. Recipients include those in need at orphanages, hospitals, economically deprived regions and disaster areas ravaged by floods and storms.

"It's very humbling to see how some people live and how much we take for granted. Many people do not have access to something as simple as a receiving blanket," Carey said. "Newborn babies all over the world are sent home wrapped in such items as newspapers or banana leaves."

The desire to create something warm and cuddly for little ones also spread to members of the church's Young Women's group, who gave up other activities on a school night to help at the event.

The young ladies cut, sewed, ironed and folded as the evening progressed and the piles of finished blankets grew larger.

"I hope the blankets keep the children warm," said Breanne Sponaugle, a sophomore at Kamiak High School. "It's nice to be able to help out in some way."

Megan Jacobsen, a senior at Kamiak, joined her mother, Harbour Pointe Relief Society President Lisa Jacobsen, who was also on hand to help lead the group's efforts. "Serving others is at the core of what we stand for," Mrs. Jacobsen said. "This evening came about through the efforts of many people who wanted to help"

The service project took several weeks to plan and is in celebration of The Relief Society's 166th birthday this month.

Organized on March 17, 1842, The Relief Society now has more than 5.5 million members worldwide and is the largest organization for women in the world.