Grayslake teens launch project to make, provide blankets to the homeless

Wrapping up in a blanket can warm the body.

For four teens living in Grayslake, giving a blanket to the homeless has done so much more. It warms the heart.

Libby Bien, Rosie Drevline, Maura Fitzgerald and Lainie Oechsle have started a project called the Warmed Hearts initiative, raising money and using those funds to create and deliver blankets to those in need in Chicago.

Bien said they all have traveled into Chicago and saw many homeless people on just a short walk.

“We've all been down there in the winter, and it's hard to imagine we get to come home to a warm house every day and we have heat and we have hot chocolate, and it's hard to imagine that they are sitting on the street with nothing,” she said.

Drevline, Bien and Fitzgerald, who are freshmen at Grayslake Central, and Oechsle, a freshman at Carmel Catholic High School, began fundraising for their project in October. Talking with family and friends, and then going door to door to seek donations, they raised $260.

“At first, we weren't really sure how much we were going to get, or the response people would give to the idea, but it was a good turnout considering it was our first year,” Oechsle said.

Drevline said each of them in the past had given money to someone who was homeless. But the concern sometimes is not knowing how the money will be used. Their goal was to let donors know their generosity would comfort those who are homeless.

“I know how warm one of those blankets can be. I sleep with one every night,” Drevline said. “Giving one of those would definitely be worth the contribution of 50 cents that you pulled out of your purse.”

Bien added that when someone is homeless, they have so little that they own, that they can cherish. A blanket can, perhaps, feel like a piece of home.

“I feel like when you're born, the first thing you have is your blanket. It's not even just about keeping you warm. Blankets are so comforting,” she said.

The girls decided that instead of making a large number of smaller, thin blankets to instead create 12 double-layered fleece blankets. Each blanket was 3-by-2 yards.

“We felt if we make less of the thick blankets, it will do more good than making more thin blankets, because the thin blankets would not keep them warm and stop the wind,” Bien said.

And instead of having just one girl work at a sewing machine, they decided to use a technique of cutting slits along the perimeter of both layers and tying the layers together.

Drevline added, “I've heard every tie is a prayer.”

At first, wondering if they would travel downtown and hand out the blankets on the street, Fitzgerald said they learned about a homeless shelter whose residents could use them. So, in January the girls brought the blankets to the Lincoln Park Community Shelter, which provides a safe living space for 35 guests each night year-round within the basement of the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.

“They were so happy about it, and that made me feel good that they were so happy,” Oechsle said.

“You could see every one of them was smiling. They didn't just take a blanket and go back to their rooms. They were standing there even talking to one another and you could see it was a good bonding moment for them, too,” Drevline added.

Fitzgerald said they learned while there that those who stay at the shelter are individuals who are trying to make changes to bring themselves out of homelessness, whether it be recovering from alcohol or drugs.

“They are all trying to get their lives back on track. We're giving them something and encouraging them to hang on,” Oechsle said.

The girls now want to make Warmed Hearts an annual effort. While the project was started by this group of friends, they hope by one day creating a website and continuing to talk about their work, more people will contribute.

Fitzgerald said others can help by giving money for materials, materials itself or giving their time so they can help more people.

“Anybody who wants to help is more than welcome to help,” she said. “We don't just want it just for us.”