The holidays will look different this year as many reimagine large family gatherings and evaluate the risk of visiting loved ones in institutional settings.
But without regular visits from family members, it can be even more stressful for those who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s. Many triggers can cause anxiety: caregivers wearing masks and gloves, not recognizing one’s surroundings, the inability to complete a once-familiar task, or being corrected when one’s perceived reality doesn’t align with others.
In an effort to bring love and comfort to these patients — especially in cases where personal visits aren’t advisable — volunteers with Bridge Ministry of Burton are in the process of sewing activity blankets. Sometimes called busy blankets or fidget blankets, these lap-sized quilts include tactile notions and objects, often featuring interactive elements like pockets, zippers, or peek-a-boo images.
“After this spring’s large project where volunteers sewed fabric masks for students, senior citizens, and nurses, we were blessed with an abundance of leftover fabric,” says Susie Tommaney, Burton Bridge Ministry’s executive director. “The seamstresses and crafters tell me that they’ve enjoyed working on this project from the safety of their own homes, knowing that they’re helping out while also practicing social distancing.”
One team of volunteers has been layering batting between colorful fabrics and hemming the starter blankets; from there, the blankets are paired with quilting scraps, buttons, gewgaws, and notions in compatible colors and themes. These kits have been distributed to partner churches where crafty seamstresses finish the blankets. Each is then blessed by a prayer team.
According to Kathe Forrest, a Brenham-area hospice volunteer, a care center in Giddings displayed similar projects on the wall — with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“[They had] wooden frames… with all kinds of stuff to touch and turn, like wheels and other things,” Forrest explains. “People loved them!”
The activity blankets can be purchased by visiting burtonbridgeministry.org. The ministry will ship the blankets anywhere within the United States. Supporters also can purchase a blanket and have it donated to an area memory care patient.
Proceeds
from the sale of these activity blankets help underwrite Burton Bridge Ministry’s Christmas programs: distributing premium goods to food pantry clients on Dec. 11 and handing out Christmas dinners and toys to low income families on Dec. 18.
For those wishing to take part, blanket kits are still available. Contact Burton Bridge Ministry at (979) 337-3370 or burtonbridgeministry@gmail.com for information.
Inventory also is available for online purchase: etsy.com/shop/BurtonBridgeMinistry.
