Vernon Area Library volunteers craft blankets for hospice patients

For the past several winters on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Vernon Area Public Library has hosted a service project for families to create scarves or blankets for local people in need.

But this year, with the library building closed, organizer Jen Ernsteen was trying to figure out how to coordinate the popular project and do so safely. That's when she learned from Cory Sekso, the library's volunteer coordinator, that many longtime volunteers were looking for ways to contribute remotely.

So the annual project found a home, and willing hands, with eight adult volunteers. The result? A dozen warm, fleece blankets were carefully crafted for delivery to patients at the Heartland Hospice in Buffalo Grove.

"Having lost a parent to cancer, I look for opportunities to work with hospice organizations. Gestures like this mean a lot, not just to the patient, but the whole family," Ernsteen said.

The project proved beneficial to all involved.

"It's nice to know I'm giving a warm 'hug' when hugs are few and far between lately," volunteer Ellen Klawans said. "Doing this brought a smile to my face."

"I couldn't be more proud of the library's volunteers. Despite COVID mitigations, they continue to seek out ways to safely make kind and meaningful contributions to the library, their neighbors, and community," Sesko said.

The fleece blankets were collected and quarantined before delivery to Heartland Hospice.

Library staff are brainstorming similar projects to involve patrons.

"We know from experience that Vernon Area Library patrons are community-minded and want to help others," Ernsteen said.

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