“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord” (Ps. 137:3).

Introduction

November is a month when the winter weather brings out our desire for cozy things: a warm cup of tea, toasty slippers or a soft, cozy blanket. Blankets do more than bring warmth. They can be a source of security and familiarity, especially to children.

Program Idea

This program gives the opportunity to partner with agencies or community groups like hospitals or shelters to bring warmth to children. It involves making blankets for kids who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Often sewing groups are looking for an outlet for their finished craft projects. They could participate with your women’s ministries to provide blankets. It would also be a source to recruit new women into your group.

One national non–profit organization leading the way in providing children with blankets is “Project Linus.” You can contact your local representative by going to their website: https://www.projectlinus.org/. Invite their representative to speak to the group about starting a project. This could be a one-time event or an ongoing project of your women’s ministries outreach.

Service Project—Blankets for Children

Participation

The women may choose to knit, crochet, quilt, or tie blankets to contribute to this project. Those who do not make blankets may support in other ways during the year such as helping to collect the materials or by making a donation.

Project Manager

Assign a project manager to coordinate and keep the blankets until they are shared with the group and presented to the designated recipients. Or the blankets could be kept in the corps social service office and handed out as needed.

Tie Blankets

An alternate idea is to make “no sew fleece blankets.” You will find many tutorials on Pinterest, or YouTube.

Refreshments

A fun refreshment could be pigs in a blanket—a hot dog or sausage wrapped in a crescent roll. Recipes are on the Internet.

Wonder and Warmth

Did you or one of your children have a security blanket? Why do children choose a security blanket? We swaddled newborn babies in a blanket for warmth and to imitate the feeling of security of being in their mothers’ womb. As they grow into toddlers, they still find security in a blanket that belongs only to them. Its brings warmth and comfort as they face each day. It brings comfort when a parent or caregiver can’t be with them, a constant “companion” that makes a child feel safe. As we mature we don’t carry a blanket around, but we still search for purpose and security in our lives. A new kind of security blanket.

We read in Psalm 127:3, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” The wonder of that scripture is amazing to me. Children are a gift from God. He gifted us to our parents. But even more amazing is that we are God’s children. “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are” (1 John 3:1). Also, Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co–heirs with Christ.” We can find security in knowing once we accept Jesus into our hearts we are His child. He is our blanket of security. We never have to worry.

It’s freeing and powerful when we feel alone and the world treats us coldly, that God’s warmth and wonder and hope remains with us.