ARLINGTON — The Binky Patrol is at it again.
They’re out to stitch up a bunch of quilts, but not just for fun. These handmade blankets are earmarked for youngsters and teenagers who are ill, abused, in foster care or suffering from trauma.
The Binky Patrol plans to sew as many "comforting covers for kids" as possible in its second annual Bink-a-Thon today, which coincides with national Make a Difference Day, an opportunity for folks to volunteer for worthwhile endeavors.
The Bink-a-Thon will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Stillaguamish Senior Center, 18308 Smokey Point Blvd.
The Marysville chapter, which began in August 1999 and whose volunteers are mostly senior citizens, has no sponsors, area coordinator Ernalee Munday said. Volunteers could use donations of refreshments for the Bink-a-Thon, more people to sew, or donations of fabric, batting, thread, yarn and money to purchase the supplies and sewing notions.
Since it began, the chapter has made and donated 1,845 blankets throughout Snohomish County, Camano Island and Skagit County.
Many of the blankets have gone to Deaconess Children’s Services, the Pregnancy Resource Center, Providence Children’s Center, Northwest Youth Services, the Battered Women’s Center, Camano Healthcare Center, Cascade Valley Hospital, Skagit County Community Action Agency, Second Chance and Volunteers of America-Child Resource Department.
Last year 3,500 "binkies" were distributed nationwide. This year, the goal is 5,000 blankets, Munday said.
The chapter has no real home and also could use money to rent places to meet and sew, as hall rentals are costly for the nonprofit group, she said. Volunteers will need to bring their own sewing machines.
Binky Patrol is an all-volunteer, national nonprofit organization. Since 1996, it has grown to more than 160 chapters nationwide and has delivered more than 230,000 binkies to children.
For more information, call Munday at 360-659-7198 or Binky Patrol at 949-916-5926, or go to www.binkypatrol.org.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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