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.
Club Promotes Free Diapers The NOVA Diaper Bank provides tens of thousands of diapers free to income-qualified (e.g., WIC, SNAP, TAMP, Medicaid, Head Start) families in northern Virginia. To help get the word out our club presented the Ampersand Pantry Project with a banner promoting the program and provided fliers to hand out. We're just trying to help our neighbors in need. Learn more at www.NOVAdiaperbank.org. ... See MoreSee Less
Braving hot temperatures we picked up trash along a 3-mile section of the W&OD Trail between Leesburg and Paeonian Springs. It was gratifying to find so little trash--good citizen stewardship of this wonderful resource. ... See MoreSee Less
It’s not too late! Registration for the virtual Education and Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, is still available. Act now and you won’t miss a speaker or a session. Plus, you’ll have access to recordings of all proceedings. The fun begins Thursday! Register now at kiwanis.org/slc2021. ... See MoreSee Less
Education. Training. Fun. The 2021 Kiwanis International Education and Leadership Conference is June 23-26, 2021. Attend virtually or in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
"My grandfather had a great influence on me. He once said, 'You don’t have to be outstanding in life, but must be able to stand out in life... When you were born, you cried and we rejoiced, but you have to live your life in such a way that when you pass on, we cry and you rejoice.' That became my mantra."
Read more from our conversation with Kiwanian and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Raveen Arora. ... See MoreSee Less
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.
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Club Promotes Free Diapers
The NOVA Diaper Bank provides tens of thousands of diapers free to income-qualified (e.g., WIC, SNAP, TAMP, Medicaid, Head Start) families in northern Virginia. To help get the word out our club presented the Ampersand Pantry Project with a banner promoting the program and provided fliers to hand out. We're just trying to help our neighbors in need.
Learn more at www.NOVAdiaperbank.org. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Cleaning Up the W&OD Trail
Braving hot temperatures we picked up trash along a 3-mile section of the W&OD Trail between Leesburg and Paeonian Springs. It was gratifying to find so little trash--good citizen stewardship of this wonderful resource. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
It’s not too late! Registration for the virtual Education and Leadership Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, is still available. Act now and you won’t miss a speaker or a session. Plus, you’ll have access to recordings of all proceedings. The fun begins Thursday! Register now at kiwanis.org/slc2021. ... See MoreSee Less
Sign Up
Salt Lake City 2021
www.kiwanis.org
Education. Training. Fun. The 2021 Kiwanis International Education and Leadership Conference is June 23-26, 2021. Attend virtually or in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Comment on Facebook
Will any of the presentations be recorded - I'm interested in some of the topics, but I cannot attend live.
"My grandfather had a great influence on me. He once said, 'You don’t have to be outstanding in life, but must be able to stand out in life... When you were born, you cried and we rejoiced, but you have to live your life in such a way that when you pass on, we cry and you rejoice.' That became my mantra."
Read more from our conversation with Kiwanian and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Raveen Arora. ... See MoreSee Less
A peaceful passion
kiwanismagazine.org
A conversation with Kiwanian and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Raveen Arora.Comment on Facebook
Enjoyed reading this article