On Monday, Mar. 21, the Newman University Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF) spent their lunch hour making tie blankets to donate to victims of sexual assault in Wesley hospital emergency rooms.
Brittney Huntington, NCF president, said this is the first year the organization has done this service project and plans to continue to do it once every semester.
“’The Blanket Makers,’ as the group has become known as, make fleece tie blankets to be given to victims of sexual assault when they come to Wesley,” Huntington said. “There is little security and comfort during this time and these blankets have been able to provide a small piece of comfort and encouragement to the victims. A blanket feels cozy and secure which is the heart behind the ministry of group.”
Nurses who evaluate and treat these clients will give the victims one of the blankets. Each blanket has been prayed over and has a note of encouragement attached.
“For each blanket when we finished making it a group would circle up and pray for the person who would receive the blanket,” Huntington said. “To each blanket, we attached a Bible verse and an encouraging card for the blanket recipient. We looked at each blanket and made a personalized note for who we envisioned would pick out the blanket.”
Huntington said that NCF does a service project each semester to give back to the community. She estimated around 30 students took part in the event and said they made 20 blankets in the hour.
“This project was presented by one of our members and we were excited to partner with The Blanket Makers and serve in this way as nursing students and future nurses caring for people in a vulnerable time in their live is close to our heart,” she said. “This organization supports that role of the nurse and was a way we felt we could impact the community we live in.”
