Since September 2016 Leesburg Kiwanians have hand-braided and delivered 600 (and counting) fleece blankets to the pediatric ward at Loudoun INOVA Hospital–delivery 300 pictured. What started as 12 each month is now 24 for children staying at the hospital, including those there for MRIs and radiology, emergency room visits, and operations.
INOVA hospital staff lets children who need some added warmth or just some soft, soothing comfort choose a blanket.
According to the staff, these blankets have become very popular with their colorful designs and hand-braided edges. Hospital child life specialists report “many patients hold onto their blankets their entire visit, and it becomes their coping method!” They note the children are thrilled to learn they get to take them home too.
When the club delivered presents to patients just before Christmas in 2018, we met a teenage girl who had received one of our first donated blankets. It remains a prized possession according to her mom.
The pediatric unit therapy dog–Jeremiah–gets monthly deliveries too. At the staff’s request we braid the edge remnants from the fleece into sturdy chew toys. According to a former handler, “he’s in heaven with his rope pull toys! He likes to challenge me every now and again to a game of tug of war and he always wins…of course!” Jeremiah looks forward to blanket deliveries too because his 3 toys have come. If Jeremiah sees us coming to deliver blankets in the hallway, he looks for his toy, and sometimes will take one right then to carry around the hospital.
Therapy Dog Jeremiah enjoying a new chew toy made from remnants of the braided fleece blankets for pediatric patients.
A water chestnut species (Trapa bispinosa) is invading the Potomac River watershed. Unchecked it could start to clog the Potomac River itself. Nancy Rybicki a marine biologist and USGS emerita Aquatic Plant Ecologist, will speak at our March 18 club meeting. To attend, give us your email so we can send the Zoom link. Or, learn more from his ABC7News story (wjla.com/news/local/invasive-plant-species-potomac-watershed) and here (mdinvasives.org/iotm/july-2019/). ... See MoreSee Less
Invader of the Month Teaming up to Tackle Two-horned Trapa: A Highly Invasive New Species of Water Chestnut New Water Chestnut– Trapa bispinosa| July 01, 2019| Maryland Invasive Species Council T. bispinosa foliage, roots, and 2-horned fruits. ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 1, 2019) – Eurasian wate...
For Dr Seuss' birthday (March 2) we returned to the Ampersand Pantry in Leesburg to give away gently used books that the club has collected. At the drive-through event we gave age-appropriate books to parents and grandparents for their (grand)children. In spite of the cold we were gratified we could help more than 50 children that day. And we left books for those who come later and ask for them. ... See MoreSee Less
Did you know that April 12 is Drop Everything and Read Day? It’s a day in the U.S. to make reading with children a priority. Join Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to support children’s literacy in your community: Commit to reading 20 minutes on April 12. Learn more at rif.org/kiwanis. ... See MoreSee Less
The Kiwanis Club of North Saint Andrew in Kingston, Jamaica, has undertaken an ambitious project to help the government plant 3 million trees in three years to help alleviate the impact of climate change and improve air quality. The club is planting trees at Mount James Basic School to provide children with an outside space to help them learn. #KidsNeedKiwanis
We really are one family in Kiwanis! Although not nearly as ambitious in numbers of trees, the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent in Southwestern Ontario also has just started a tree planting project. It has now become a Division commitment involving other clubs in our area. We are all committed to improving the world one community at a time for the children.
"Simple Acts Of Compassion Are The Core Of Our Humanity."-DJF
Fleece Blankets for INOVA Loudoun Hospital
Since September 2016 Leesburg Kiwanians have hand-braided and delivered 600 (and counting) fleece blankets to the pediatric ward at Loudoun INOVA Hospital–delivery 300 pictured. What started as 12 each month is now 24 for children staying at the hospital, including those there for MRIs and radiology, emergency room visits, and operations.
INOVA hospital staff lets children who need some added warmth or just some soft, soothing comfort choose a blanket.
According to the staff, these blankets have become very popular with their colorful designs and hand-braided edges. Hospital child life specialists report “many patients hold onto their blankets their entire visit, and it becomes their coping method!” They note the children are thrilled to learn they get to take them home too.
When the club delivered presents to patients just before Christmas in 2018, we met a teenage girl who had received one of our first donated blankets. It remains a prized possession according to her mom.
The pediatric unit therapy dog–Jeremiah–gets monthly deliveries too. At the staff’s request we braid the edge remnants from the fleece into sturdy chew toys. According to a former handler, “he’s in heaven with his rope pull toys! He likes to challenge me every now and again to a game of tug of war and he always wins…of course!” Jeremiah looks forward to blanket deliveries too because his 3 toys have come. If Jeremiah sees us coming to deliver blankets in the hallway, he looks for his toy, and sometimes will take one right then to carry around the hospital.
Would you like to braid a blanket for your child? Follow these instructions.
Just another example of why #kidsneedKiwanis.
Would you like to donate the cost of a blanket? Donate here.
Search Site
Leesburg Kiwanis
1 month ago
New Invasive Water Chestnut Attacks Our Watershed
A water chestnut species (Trapa bispinosa) is invading the Potomac River watershed. Unchecked it could start to clog the Potomac River itself. Nancy Rybicki a marine biologist and USGS emerita Aquatic Plant Ecologist, will speak at our March 18 club meeting. To attend, give us your email so we can send the Zoom link. Or, learn more from his ABC7News story (wjla.com/news/local/invasive-plant-species-potomac-watershed) and here (mdinvasives.org/iotm/july-2019/). ... See MoreSee Less
Teaming up to Tackle Two-horned Trapa: A Highly Invasive New Species of Water Chestnut | Maryland Invasive Species Council
mdinvasives.org
Invader of the Month Teaming up to Tackle Two-horned Trapa: A Highly Invasive New Species of Water Chestnut New Water Chestnut– Trapa bispinosa| July 01, 2019| Maryland Invasive Species Council T. bispinosa foliage, roots, and 2-horned fruits. ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 1, 2019) – Eurasian wate...Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email
Comment on Facebook Invader of the Month...
Leesburg Kiwanis
1 month ago
Giving Away Books for Reading Across America
For Dr Seuss' birthday (March 2) we returned to the Ampersand Pantry in Leesburg to give away gently used books that the club has collected. At the drive-through event we gave age-appropriate books to parents and grandparents for their (grand)children. In spite of the cold we were gratified we could help more than 50 children that day. And we left books for those who come later and ask for them. ... See MoreSee Less
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email
Comment on Facebook Giving Away Books ...
Kiwanis International
19 hours ago
Did you know that April 12 is Drop Everything and Read Day? It’s a day in the U.S. to make reading with children a priority. Join Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) to support children’s literacy in your community: Commit to reading 20 minutes on April 12. Learn more at rif.org/kiwanis. ... See MoreSee Less
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email
Comment on Facebook Did you know that ...
Kiwanis International
2 days ago
The Kiwanis Club of North Saint Andrew in Kingston, Jamaica, has undertaken an ambitious project to help the government plant 3 million trees in three years to help alleviate the impact of climate change and improve air quality. The club is planting trees at Mount James Basic School to provide children with an outside space to help them learn. #KidsNeedKiwanis
Watch a video of the project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DbvR7brHjM ... See MoreSee Less
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email
Comment on Facebook The Kiwanis Club of ...
We really are one family in Kiwanis! Although not nearly as ambitious in numbers of trees, the Kiwanis Club of Chatham-Kent in Southwestern Ontario also has just started a tree planting project. It has now become a Division commitment involving other clubs in our area. We are all committed to improving the world one community at a time for the children.
"Simple Acts Of Compassion Are The Core Of Our Humanity."-DJF