On Jan. 10, McLean’s United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Club, dedicated to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children, created no-sew blankets for local hospitals.
The UNICEF Club has priorly led similar projects, such as collecting donations and creating activity kits for the children at the Patrick Henry Family Shelter.
“McLean’s UNICEF Club has partnered with local hospitals such as the Inova L. J. Murphy Children’s Hospital and the Children’s National Hospital in the past,” said senior Kylie Nguyen, community outreach officer of the UNICEF Club. “However, this is the club’s first time doing this sort of activity.”
The idea originated from the club leaders, who envisioned that the project would not only bring club members closer, but also contribute to the well-being of the community. Recognizing the comforting nature of blanket-making, the club decided to forgo traditional sewing methods to create an accessible and engaging experience for all involved.
“Leadership believed that the blankets provided a fantastic opportunity for our members to collaborate on a meaningful project without needing specialized skills,” Nguyen said. “We wanted to create something tangible that could bring comfort to those facing difficult circumstances while also fostering a sense of unity within our club.”
Club members gathered after school, armed with fleece fabric, scissors, and a shared sense of purpose. The no-sew technique involves cutting fringes along the edges of two pieces of fleece and tying them together, creating a cozy and durable blanket that may be distributed to patients and families in need.
UNICEF’s no-sew blanket initiative has not only brought warmth to those receiving the blankets but has also woven a tighter fabric of friendship among its members, serving as a reminder that small acts of kindness can create lasting bonds and contribute to the well-being of the entire community.
“I never thought making the blankets could be so meaningful,” Nguyen said. “Knowing that something I’ve created with my own hands can provide comfort to patients and families going through tough and scary times is incredibly rewarding.”
Knowing that something I’ve created with my own hands can provide comfort to patients and families going through tough and scary times is incredibly rewarding.”
— Kylie Nguyen
As the club continues to cut, tie, and create these blankets, they hope to inspire other local groups to embrace similar initiatives, turning simple acts of compassion into a powerful force for positive change.
“I’m happy that we’re able to contribute to the community no matter how small,” Nguyen said. “Even though it can be seen as just a fun activity for members, I know it means a lot to the patients.”
