C.O. Heartwarmers still busy making blankets to give, but now from home
(Update: Adding video, details)
'Each time we write and say, 'We have a need,' they come,' founder says
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The pandemic has changed the way many businesses and organizations operate.
One nonprofit in Bend is thriving by giving its volunteers a take home project.
Mary Tomjack is founder and president of Heartwarmers in Bend, an organization that makes and donates fleece blankets, but at present can no longer hold the workshops where they make the blankets.
But since the pandemic began, Heartwarmers has been turning out more blankets than ever, despite not having those workshops.
Instead of having dozens of people come together to make blankets in their workshops, Heartwarmers now has people come into their offices, pick out their fabric and make the blankets at home themselves.
"We give you scissors and we show you how to (make the blankets) and put (supplies) in a bag and send them home with you," Tomjack said.
"We worked for an hour and a half. We made our blankets,” Tomjack told NewsChannel 21 of the workshops. “(Volunteers) didn't bring anything but their smiles."
"We've given out more blankets, more gifts since COVID began," Tomjack said.
She said they’re donating about 50 blankets every two weeks.
"We've been giving a lot to the veterans, to St. Vincent DePaul, Shepherds house, Bethlehem Inn, lots to the warming centers," Tomjack said.
And when volunteers give the finished blankets back, they also turn in the left over scraps of fleece.
That’s because Heartwarmers has a no-waste policy.
"We have a gentleman who's been working with us for about six years who's made about 3,000 of these bears,” Tomjack said, holding up a bear made out of fleece leftovers. “We also have two volunteers that are making little bears from our scraps."
Heartwarmers even makes dog toys from the scraps.
Tomjack said she couldn't tally the level of support they've gotten since March, but it's been ... well, heartwarming.
"Each time we write and say, 'We have a need,' they come,” she said. “It's just amazing."
