PLAINWELL, Mich. — In the basement of their Plainwell home, Deb Kajpust and her husband, Bob, are making blankets for children in need.
"I just love it," Deb smiled, "I love the idea knowing I'm helping a child."
With the help of a few other people in the area, Kajpust hopes to make 700 blankets by December, as a part of the non-profit called 'Project Linus'.
"We cover children that maybe have cancer or other very serious illnesses," she explained, "or maybe a child in foster care, a child that lost a parent. Also, children in a fire where maybe they don't have a coat anymore."
Kajpust is the Project Linus chapter coordinator for Allegan, Barry, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. She works directly with several different organizations, including hospitals, fire departments and police stations to make sure her blankets go to someone who needs them.
"Sometimes I come out of a building and I'm in tears just knowing what is going on in a child's life," Kajpust said, "I feel very blessed knowing I'm helping a child in need."
It's a year-round job for Deb and the other volunteers who are already working hard to make sure they can meet the ever growing demand, especially during the winter.
"I work year-round," said Deb, "getting things organized, going to our drop off sites, and delivering blankets to our different organizations."
Making a blanket takes a lot of time, which is why Kajpust is now asking for help from the community.
"I definitely need more blankets," Deb said, "the few ladies I have here working with me, we can't make 700 blankets. We try to make as many as we can, but there's just no way."
Kajpust has blanket drop-off sites located around West Michigan, if you'd like to make a blanket and drop it off at one of the following locations:
- Dragon Fly Quilts, Plainwell
- Sisters Fabrics, Hastings
- Sharon's Quilts, Allegan
- Delton Library
The non-profit is also taking cash donations to help cover the cost of purchasing the fabrics for the blankets. If you'd like to contact Deb to see how you can help out, she'd be more than happy to take your phone call at (616) 446-4259.
