Sharing ‘Blankets of Love’
Photos by Ginger Brown
Students from the Roy Johnson Transition Program in Castro Valley assemble blankets to donate to a local women's shelter.
These "Blankets of Love" included personalized messages from the students for people who are struggling and want to help homeless families and kids.
The spirit of the holidays came early to a women's shelter this past Friday, thanks to a group of kind and giving students from the Roy Johnson Transition Program in Castro Valley.
The class made 15 blankets and donated them to the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center in Berkeley. Each month, the shelter helps an average of 150 homeless women and their children with a safe space, warm meals, counseling, and support.
The staff and the 25 students at Roy Johnson made the blankets from kits donated by Joann Fabrics in San Leandro. The assembled blankets each included a personalized card from the student with words of encouragement such as, “We hope that this blanket is like a warm hug from us.”
“We call these blankets of love!” teacher Ginger Brown told the Forum. “The class worked on these blankets all month. It connects them to the community, especially for people who are struggling right now.”
As part of the Blankets of Love project, the students were asked to keep a writing journal of their experience.
“I appreciate making the blankets because I feel bad for people who are struggling and want to help homeless families and kids,” said Megan S.
“The blankets are for women at the shelter to keep them warm for the holidays,” said Erika H.
“We need everyone to help [Women's Daytime Drop-In Center] to protect and take care of women and children,” said Jason F.
Based out of Redwood High School in Castro Valley, the Roy Johnson program provides ongoing educational support for students ages 18 to 22 with moderate to severe disabilities. The classes include academics but also prepare the students with vocational training, lessons in independent living, business communication, transitional skills, and personal finance.
Many students also made the choice to convert 100 of their in-class “Dojo Points” (used to foster positive student behaviors and classroom culture) to give a cash donation to the shelter.
“When they told us they wanted to donate their Dojo Points, we were wowed!” Brown said. They are so kind to spend their own incentive points to help others.”
In addition to the Blankets of Love, make holiday wreaths for sale on eBay and Etsy. They also participate annually in the Toys for Tots program. But the donated blanket kits inspired the class to look for somewhere to pay it forward, Brown said.
“It was a bit of a challenge to find a shelter who could take them, Brown said. “Shelters often have protocols about property so clients do not have issues with theft of personal property. Thankfully, we found the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center who was interested in our blankets.”
To make a donation to the Women's Daytime Drop-In Center, visit their website: https://www.womensdropin.org/
“There is also a place at the bottom of the donation page that allows you to write in what inspired you to donate,” Brown said. “Please mention the Roy Johnson Transition students’ kindness to help women in need inspires your family to help out too.”