Baltimore: The Welcome Project and No-Sew Fleece Blankets

The last weekend in April I participated in an annual community event called "ServeFest."  This is where I met McDonogh high school teenagers Tyler Meagher and Payton Sanchez who created a non profit organization called "The Welcome Project."  The purpose of the organization is to teach others to make fleece blankets that will be donated to children staying at the Ronald McDonald House located in Baltimore.  

Tyler Meagher and Payton Sanchez with siblings

The blankets are intended to give warmth and support to children who face a great deal of uncertainty.  With the texture of soft fleece, I could feel how these blankets could instantly bring comfort to those children living away from home while undergoing various medical treatments.  

In order to participate I was instructed to purchase two pieces of fleece (one piece patterned and the other solid in color) each being one and half yards long.

Brightly patterned fleece

For those who know me, I have not sewn a stitch of clothing since I took a home economics class in middle school.  Luckily for me, this project required no sewing, just a great pair of scissors to cut the fleece into strips.

Fleece cut into strips

The next step is to double tie the two sets of fleece strips.

Double hand tied fleece strips

This blanket is almost finished!

By the end of the morning completed blankets were being stacked up along the wall!

Blankets being donated to "The Welcome Project"

If you are interested in supporting Tyler and Payton's nonprofit "The Welcome Project" by donating supplies or know of a group who would like to make the fleece blankets, click on the following links for further information:  
The Welcome Project 
Check our their blog:
The Welcome Project's Blog 

Or email them at: thewelcomeprojectmd@gmail.com

Way to go Tyler and Payton!  So many children are now snuggling in those "handmade with love" fleece blankets!