For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Contact
Scott McLarty, scott@memorialblanket.org
Pat LaMarche, Epicjourney10@gmail.com
Diane Nilan, HEAR US

North Carolinians participating the Memorial Blanket Project to create crib blankets with baby feet designs

• “These Little Piggies are Homeless” blankets will be displayed at the Capitol in DC on Dec. 21, then distributed to families with infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness

• Journalists are welcome to attend creation of the blankets in Brevard, Morganton, and Asheville

• People across the US with sewing, knitting, crocheting, and quilting skills are invited to join the project: Find a state at https://memorialblanket.org

North Carolinians participating in the national Homeless Memorial Blanket Project are working with their littlest collaborators to create blankets for children and babies experiencing homelessness.

Blanket-makers at three sites in western North Carolina will print fabric for the blankets with baby feet to make a visual representation of the US’s tiniest, most vulnerable, and most disadvantaged without homes. They will paint the feet of babies and toddlers with non-toxic child-friendly fabric paint to decorate cloth that will be assembled into “These Little Piggies are Homeless” blankets.

The crib blankets will be distributed to families with infants and toddlers who lack adequate housing, after they are displayed on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington DC on December 21, 2022.

Members of the news media are welcome to attend the creation of the crib blankets, which will take place on the following three days:

  •  Wednesday, July 20, 11 a.m. to noon in Brevard at the Parent and Child Center, 970 Old Hendersonville Highway
  •  Friday, July 22, 2 to 4 p.m. in Morganton at Head Start, 800 North Green Street
  •  Thursday, July 28, 5 p.m. in Asheville at Transformation Village Shelter, 45 Rocky Ridge Road

Organizers of the Homeless Memorial Blanket Project are aiming for a total of at least 500 blankets, contributed by participants in every state and territory, on the West Lawn of the Capitol with the goal of raising public awareness of people without adequate housing.

When the display is disassembled, the blankets will be distributed to families and individuals in dire need during the winter.

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.

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

Press release: Homeless Memorial Blanket Project, providing homemade blankets for individuals and families without homes, plans display on the West Lawn of the Capitol in DC on Dec. 21
March 16, 2022
https://memorialblanket.org/?page_id=417

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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