Prairie Blankets for Angels Sask has been making handmade blankets to donate around the province since 2021.
They originally donated the blankets to hospitals for parents grieving pregnancy loss or the passing of a newborn. Now the group donates blankets to a number of organizations in their respective communities, including hospitals, women’s shelters, group homes and victim services, all with the goal of bringing people comfort in their time of need.
Their 200-strong volunteer base can be found in communities across Saskatchewan, including Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Swift Current, Weyburn, Estevan, Canora, Prince Albert, and Candle Lake, and they’re always looking to expand to other locations.
Dacie Matchett Orb founded the group at the end of 2021, and she spearheads the group in organizing donations of crocheted, knitted, and quilted blankets.
Blankets from the organization have been well-received. Orb pointed to a recent instance of a parent who experienced the loss of their infant. “They were a recipient of one of our blankets, and they told us how much it helped them while they were grieving.”
Child Protective Services units have also said the blankets are meaningful to children in their care. “They said that it gives them something that belongs to them, especially when the kids are coming in with nothing – they know that that is theirs, and they can take it with them if they have to move,” said Orb.
“It gives them a little bit of comfort while they’re in an impossible situation that’s out of their control.
While they’re still conducting the final blanket count for 2023, Orb believes the group created close to 3000 blankets. In 2022, they made approximately 2500.
They do have size requirements, depending on where the blankets are being donated. “The baby blanket sizes we take for the Angel Blankets are 5 inch, 10 inch, 15, and 20, and then anything from 20 to 50 inches goes into the At-Risk program we run, for the at-risk kids and women’s shelters.”
If you’re not able to assist with making blankets, they do accept donations of yarn across the province. They ask for at least three balls of the same colour if possible, with a preference for acrylic over cotton yarn since it’s a softer texture. They’re also looking for plastic totes to store donations of yarn and blankets.
Prairie Blankets for Angels Sask is not currently registered as a non-profit, but they have appointed a 4-person board of directors and are seeking non-profit status. Eventually they hope to be able to accept monetary donations and issue tax receipts.
If you’re interested in donating blankets, donating yarn, or if you want to ask about your organization receiving blanket donations, you can reach out to them on Facebook here.