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My Blanket Drive Experience

By:  Sydney Forbes

The first time I heard about the Blanket Drive I asked my mom if we were going.  She said she would see if our schedule worked out for me to go with because I have basketball games and soccer games on Saturdays.

The day for the Blanket Drive arrived and I was able to go.  This was my first Blanket Drive and I was very excited and not sure what to expect.  I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.

First we went to church to load up blankets and other sheets that were collected.  We also had to pack up hygiene kits and the lunches that were made for the people that we would meet.

When we got to the church in Cleveland I got to help make sandwiches because not all churches brought their own lunches to hand out.  All the kids who were there got to sort and pack up coats and socks and other stuff in a bag to give to each person they met.  They also sorted blankets that would be handed out.  When all of that was done we prayed then gathered up our stuff and loaded it into our van, Mr. Larner’s van, and Mr. & Mrs. Neu’s car.

We attended a church service at a really old big church next to the building where we sorted blankets.  When it was over all the people were given maps and papers and we were all sent out to look for homeless people who needed blankets.

We drove around for a while, Mr. Fenzel was with us and he was helping find places on the map while my mom drove.  We didn’t have very much luck finding people right away.  We found shanties and what looked like campsites, but no people.  My mom said that this trip would take patience.  Then we found Keith and Tony, or they found us.  They lived together under a bridge in two little shanties.  Tony was a spiritual man who said he lived on the streets since he was thirteen, that was when his mom died.   He told us he had a drinking problem and he asked us if we could pray with him and for him.  Keith said that he had a problem with drinking too much and that was why he lived on the street.  He did not pray with us, he just talked.  We gave them blankets, the coat bags, tarps, and food.

We drove around some more and never did run into any more people, but Mr. Fenzel and I got to deliver blankets and food to shanties and camps that looked like people were living there, but just weren’t there when we were.

I am so glad that I went on this Blanket Drive and I plan on going next year.  It was a heartwarming experience, but it shows you what drug and alcohol abuse can do to you.  I think that more families should go with us next time.  If you want to go on a Blanket Drive you should listen for the announcement next winter and it will be in the newsletter.