Page 49 - Jan Sun Rays

Though the group primarily crafts no-
sew fleece blankets, donations of knit,
crocheted or quilted blankets are also
gladly accepted.

Children’s Hospital. PHOTO COURTESY PATTI DEGROOT

Recently, Pat has been helping others Members of Neighborhood 50’s Alamosa Creek and Friends group work together
in Sun City to launch their own Linda’s to finish yet another blanket for Linda’s Hugs.
Hugs initiatives. Support for the group
has been generously provided by the JANUARY 2016 SUNRAYS | 47
Kiwanis Club and N35 Red Hat Soci-
ety, while the Sun City Democrats have
called upon their members to join “The
Blanket Brigade.” Neighborhood 50 has
stepped up to the plate in a big way, fun-
draising for the cause and assembling
the blankets as well. Spearheaded by
the Alamosa Creek and Friends, support
for the cause has spread throughout the
neighborhood, with many volunteers
having themselves experienced or lost
a loved one to cancer. Groups outside
of Sun City have also gotten in on the
effort, including Brookwood in George-
town (BiG), where Pat recently led BiG
community members in a blanket mak-
ing workshop.

Though their initiative is growing, Lin-
da’s Hugs is still in dire need of support.
“We need all the blankets we can get,”
says Pat, who adds that some hospitals
can distribute as many as four blankets
in one day. “Making ten blankets in a
month might seem like a lot, but really
it’s just a drop in the bucket.”

No memberships or dues are required
to participate in Linda’s Hugs; all that’s
required is a big heart and a little spare
time. Donations are welcomed and those
looking to give in-kind may give no-sew
fleece blanket kits, available for roughly
$10 at any major craft store. Knit, cro-
cheted and quilted blankets are also
enthusiastically accepted. If you have
questions about Linda’s Hugs, would
like to volunteer or are interested in
starting your own blanket group, please
contact Pat Prudhom at 512-686-0506
or [email protected].

ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG