Blankets Made with Love
Warm-Up America, St. Columbkille Chapter. Story and photos by Carol Kovach at Northeast Ohio Catholic Magazine, August 2023.
The calendar says July, so most people probably aren’t thinking about hats, gloves, scarves, mittens, and warm blankets — except for members of the St. Columbkille Warm-Up America Group. Dozens of people are busy crocheting and knitting items that will keep those in need warm once the temperatures drop.
Some of the handmade items will go to the Christ Child Society of Cleveland for their layette program. Others will find their way to Blessing House in Elyria, a crisis center that provides residential care for children through age 12 and support for their families. More items will be distributed to nonprofits like Jennings, Birthright, Woman Kind, St. Augustine Health Ministry, Mount Alverna, Hattie Larlham, and the Veterans Administration to help those in need. Mi-grants and refugees assisted by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland also may benefit from the group’s work, especially hats, scarves, and mittens for the winter.
Anna Bischof, one of the program coordinators, said the group meets monthly — except for July and December — in the rectory basement at St. Columbkille Parish in Parma. She credits the pastor, Father Anthony Suso, for his support of the program. The ministry began more than 25 years ago.
Marge Bitto, a longtime St. Columbkille parishioner, was an early member of the group. Two of her daughters, Diane Prokopovich of St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royal-ton and Karen Velbeck of St. Barnabas Parish in Northfield, dropped in to see how things were going. The Bitto family makes a donation to the group each year to ensure it can purchase the plastic bags needed to distribute the finished projects and any other needed supplies.
At a recent meeting, 170 blankets were turned in by group members who also came to collect more yarn and supplies. Representatives of some non-profits who benefit from the groups’ work were on hand to collect projects for their organizations. Members chatted about their projects, posed for a group photo and some even helped Father Joe Robinson, St. Columbkille parochial vicar, learn the basics of crocheting.
“We don’t really have formal meetings,” Anna said, noting volunteers bring their completed work and log the items onto a tally sheet. They spend some time socializing and comparing projects before heading home. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t interfere with the group’s ministry, Anna said, noting they kept right on knitting and crocheting throughout the pandemic.
“The need remained,” she added. Dozens of large, plastic tubs stacked around the perimeter of the room are filled with various kinds and colors of yarn for the next round of projects. Volunteers take any newly donated yarn, sort it by color and type and place it in the correct tub. Those working on projects select what they need before the tubs are closed and restacked.
Sister Marybeth Daly, SND was collecting blankets for children at Blessing House, also known as God’s Project of Hope.
“Each child at Blessing House gets a blanket when they arrive and they take it with them when they leave,” she said.
Warm-Up America volunteers opened a large plastic bag and Sister Marybeth chose blankets she thought the children would like. Some were orange and brown, the colors of the Cleveland Browns football team, while some were soft pastels that might appeal to girls.
“People get excited about looking at patterns, discussing some of the new things they’d like to try,” said Donna Ciborowski. We also have extra needles they can take and patterns they can use.”
“PEOPLE GET EXCITED ABOUT LOOKING AT PATTERNS, DISCUSSING SOME OF THE NEW THINGS THEY’D LIKE TO TRY.”
Donna helps coordinate the program along with Anna and Lois Walkowiak.
Joy Grad, another group member, showed off some of the fidget blankets she makes using contrasting colors, various textiles, buttons, rings, buckles, small bells, and other items. She said those suffering from dementia may find the fidget blankets calming as they finger the various textures, play with the buttons, etc.
Group members can make whatever they like, Anna said. However, there are some suggested sizes for the blankets. The size chart lists 48 inches by 60 inches as a half blanket; 45 inches by 60 inches, as a crib blanket; 40 inches by 60 inches, as a toddler blanket; 36 inches by 48 inches, as a lap blanket; and 30 inches by 36 inches, a stroller blanket. They also knit and crochet a variety of hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and sometimes even baby booties.
Carole Potts took some pink and white yarn to crochet ear warmer/headbands for next winter.
Some group members also made pillowcases and prayer bears for children at Blessing House.
Complete blankets are measured and a tag is attached that reads “Made with love, St. Columbkille Warm-Up America Group” so the recipient knows where they originated.
Anna said sometimes the group receives other donations. “Last year, we got a First Communion dress and took it to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Cleveland. The mother was so grateful. She had tears in her eyes because her daughter got a dress for her first Communion. We always find appropriate places to donate things we receive,” she added, mentioning a defibrillator that was donated to MedWish.
“All are welcome to see what we create or to join us in our mission to help nonprofit groups,” Anna said.
Northeast Ohio Catholic • July/August 2023 • dioceseofcleveland.org • Carol Kovach
