For Immediate Release
Monday, November 28, 2022
Contact
Betsy Garrold, mainefood55@gmail.com
Pat LaMarche, Epicjourney10@gmail.com
Homeless Memorial Blanket Project Coordinators to Gather Blankets in Bangor on the 7th of December
+Homeless #MemorialBlanket Project to cover the West Lawn of the Capitol with handmade blankets: Wednesday, Dec. 21 in Washington DC +People across the US with sewing, knitting, crocheting, and quilting skills are contributing blankets: Find a state at https://memorialblanket.org + Facebook page with photographs and news about the project and participants: https://www.facebook.com/groups/618847109344619
BANGOR, MAINE— The Homeless Memorial Blanket Project, a nationwide effort to encourage and compile homemade blankets for distribution to unhoused individuals and families, is going to be in Bangor on December 7th gathering the blankets made by local knitters, crocheters and quilters to be donated to the project. There will be two press availabilities for Ms. LaMarche as listed below.
The blankets assembled from all over the country will be displayed on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington DC on Wednesday December 21st. When the display is disassembled, the blankets will be distributed to families and individuals in dire need during the winter.
Donated blankets can be dropped off at two locations in Bangor:
From 1pm to 3pm at The Cotton Cupboard Quilt Shop, 1213 Broadway, Bangor. https://cottoncupboardquilt.com/ Contact person: Evelyn Caruso.
From 4-5:30 pm at the UPS Store, 499 Broadway, Bangor. Contact person: Melissa Braley.
Pat LaMarche, founder of the project says:“I’m so excited to get home to Maine and talk with folks about their work on the project. Artisans – with an enormous talent and an equal capacity for caring – have devoted countless hours to create gifts of warmth.”
One of those artisans, Robin Pinkham of Bangor, says: “I really enjoy the creativity that comes with designing and making quilts. Knowing that someone will be kept warm with one of the quilts that I took such pleasure in creating is a really good feeling. I think that home made quilts and Afghans offer a special type of warmth because of the fact that they are made with caring hands.”
The Homeless Memorial Blanket Project is aiming for a total of at least 500 blankets (9000 square feet), contributed by participants in every state and territory, for the display on Dec. 21 with the goal of raising public awareness of people without adequate housing.
The project has participants in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Volunteers in each state are being asked to make at least 100 blankets, providing ten for the Capitol Lawn display and donating another 90 or more to outreach programs in their area.
Typical blankets dimensions are 45″ x 80″ and 60″ x 80″ with a variety of fabrics, fibers, and colors.
Some states have begun to charter buses to bring participants to Washington DC for the Dec. 21 display.
The Homeless Memorial Blanket Project is hosted by the Charles Bruce Foundation (https://charlesbrucefoundation.com), which is located in central Pennsylvania. The Dec. 21 display will be an arts installation by this nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Anyone interested in participating can sign up for their state at https:// memorialblanket.org.
MORE INFORMATION
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MemorialBlanket
“Homeless Memorial Blanket Project puts a spotlight on housing insecurity” The AFRO (Washington DC), November 6, 2022
https://afro.com/homeless-memorial-blanket-project-puts-a-spotlight-on housing-insecurity/
Press release: Collection of blankets begins at a DC church in preparation for the Homeless #MemorialBlanket display on Dec. 21
October 26, 2022
https://memorialblanket.org/?page_id=896
Press release: Pennsylvania housing advocate invites donations of blanket squares for the Homeless Memorial Blanket Project
September 12, 2022
https://memorialblanket.org/?page_id=858
Homeless Memorial Blanket Project on Facebook (national group) To find a state Facebook group, type Homeless Remembrance Blanket and the state’s name in Search
https://www.facebook.com/groups/322512689587858
Nonprofit Seeks Artisans Across US to Help the Unhoused Daily Kos, February 6, 2022
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/2/6/2078926/-Nonprofit-Seeks Artisans-Across-US-to-Help-the-Unhoused
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