OKEECHOBEE — An Okeechobee homeschool mom is teaming up with a Stuart mom to raise funds to supply seniors with blankets for Christmas this year.
According to Ruthie Kelly, 33% of seniors in nursing homes have no visitors during the holidays.
Kelly became involved in the project after her pastor Cody Cummings overheard a woman talking about it in a restaurant. He introduced himself to Lindsey Kirkpatrick and asked for more information. He told her he knew a woman who would love to help.
Kirkpatrick said she has always felt an affinity with the elderly. Even as a child, she enjoyed spending time with elderly neighbors and with her grandparents.
Last year, she gathered some friends and asked if they would help deliver baskets to the Brookdale nursing home in Stuart. They spent two months gathering odds and ends to fill 48 baskets to bring to the home. They received donations from local businesses, family and friends. They decorated cookies, sang Christmas songs and enjoyed a performance by a musical group, Three Little Birds. The residents danced and sang along with the visitors, and everyone had a wonderful time.
As she walked out the door last year, Kirkpatrick said, “We’re doing two nursing homes next year!”
As she began planning for 2025, Kirkpatrick decided to give the nursing home residents blankets rather than baskets. Originally, she planned to ask people to make and donate a blanket, but as she scrolled on Instagram one day, she came across a story about a group called “Blessing Blankets Made with Love.” This group makes blankets for good causes. The leader of the group told Kirkpatrick they would be willing to make the blankets at a cost of $10 each. The blankets are made of flannel and are tied.
Kelly and Kirkpatrick agreed to organize Blessing Blankets for the residents of Vantage Oaks in Okeechobee as well as Brookdale in Stuart. They need at least 70 blankets to make sure every resident receives one. Anyone interested in donating to the effort can either visit Sorelle Coffee Shop in Palm City or Brown Cow Sweetery in Okeechobee. You can also reach Kelly via Facebook.
The blankets, along with handmade cards from local children, will be delivered to Brookdale on December 11 and Vantage Oaks on December 4.
“Everyone donates to children,” said Kelly. “I get that children are alone during the holidays, but most have a loved one to wake up and spend the day with. Elders are left alone in a nursing home with no one coming to visit and no phone calls. This leads to isolation and loneliness and can cause them to feel forgotten. This can make their health go downhill faster. Don’t forget about your elders. We will all be old one day too.”
According to their website, Blessing Blankets, “Blessing Blankets Made with Love is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to sharing comfort and kindness. Our volunteers craft handmade blankets for people in need and blankets and toys for rescued animals. Each month, we gather to create, connect, and give back—bringing warmth to our community, joy to seniors, and service opportunities to students. Every donation goes directly toward materials so we can continue wrapping people and pets in love.”
