Courtesy photo The Saint Francis University Community Blanketeers set an all-time high this fall with the collection of 279 quilted, crocheted, knitted and tied blankets that were distributed to sick and needy children through the Healing Patch and Nurse-Family Partnership (Home Nursing Agency); blankets will also brighten the days of residents at Amber Hills and Cambria Care Center. Shown are (from left): seated — Melody Ray, Home Nursing Agency volunteer coordinator/grief specialist; and Melita O’Donnell, SFU Blanket Project coordinator; back row — The Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassel, T.O.R., university president; Gabrielle Cronin; Bernard Storm; Abigail Malloy; and Lois Schultz, Cambria County Nurse Family Practitioner supervisor. The group has been active on campus since 2006, and over the past 15 years has donated more than 2,337 blankets to local children in need in Cambria County, Blair County and surrounding areas. This year, donations also were made to Dauntless Fire Company in Ebensburg and Nanty Glo Fire Company. Thanks to local community blanketeers from Altoona, Cresson, Ebensburg, Johnstown, Loretto, Patton and Portage for contributing to this year’s blanket collection, and to Clare Ann Lasinsky of Ebensburg for sewing the blanketeer tags on each blanket. For additional information regarding the Blanketeers, contact Melita O’Donnell at modonnell@francis.edu.

Courtesy photo

The Saint Francis University Community Blanketeers set an all-time high this fall with the collection of 279 quilted, crocheted, knitted and tied blankets that were distributed to sick and needy children through the Healing Patch and Nurse-Family Partnership (Home Nursing Agency); blankets will also brighten the days of residents at Amber Hills and Cambria Care Center. Shown are (from left): seated — Melody Ray, Home Nursing Agency volunteer coordinator/grief specialist; and Melita O’Donnell, SFU Blanket Project coordinator; back row — The Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassel, T.O.R., university president; Gabrielle Cronin; Bernard Storm; Abigail Malloy; and Lois Schultz, Cambria County Nurse Family Practitioner supervisor. The group has been active on campus since 2006, and over the past 15 years has donated more than 2,337 blankets to local children in need in Cambria County, Blair County and surrounding areas. This year, donations also were made to Dauntless Fire Company in Ebensburg and Nanty Glo Fire Company. Thanks to local community blanketeers from Altoona, Cresson, Ebensburg, Johnstown, Loretto, Patton and Portage for contributing to this year’s blanket collection, and to Clare Ann Lasinsky of Ebensburg for sewing the blanketeer tags on each blanket. For additional information regarding the Blanketeers, contact Melita O’Donnell at modonnell@francis.edu.