By Ann Escamilla, Staff Reporter.
Rule 32.
In the movie “Zombieland,” Rule 32 is, “Enjoy the little things.”
Those little things can range from a small smile from a stranger to the comfort of a blanket.
“We take it for granted, something so simple as a blanket,” said Sharon Bernthal, the English Professor who is leading a team of volunteers in making piles of fuzzy blankets for local children in need.
Bernthal and a team of volunteers invite the public to join in on the Second Annual Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Kids Blanket-Making Party along with Amy McPike, Coordinator of Campus Life & New Student Orientation.
CASA are trained volunteers who serve as the voice for children who have endured child abuse. Friday, Nov. 14 from noon to 3 p.m. in room N-012, community members, students, staff and faculty will get the chance to help make blankets for kids.
It all got started with an idea to help, to give a child in need something to be happy for.
“I talked to Amy and said, ‘can we do this?’” Bernthal said. “And she responded, “Let’s do it!”” The idea took off, resulting in last year’s event making which produced more than 80 blankets.
“We thought about only 25 or 30 blankets,” McPike said. “We had no idea there were so many kids in the program. It was overwhelming.”
Students, faculty, and community members can contribute not just by blankets but through donations or fleece. Checks and cash are also accepted for the cause.
Even those with the busiest social calendar can stop down on Friday and join the fun.
“You can tie a blanket on a date,” Bernthal said.
The blankets and donations are sent to the Child Abuse and Neglect Council in Saginaw, where the children receive a blanket at their December Christmas party. The kids get to pick what blanket they want take home.
“To be able to have a choice; it’s those moments that help, that touch the heart,” McPike said.
Bernthal gets her students involved and incorporates lessons into the volunteer work.
“In my class we do a unit on poverty,” Bernthal said. “We read stories about survivors.”
Bernthal knows about service learning, and she also knows blankets. She enjoys always making blankets for her friends and family.
In the words of Amy McPike, there’s, “No greater gift in the world than to help a child.”
Those with questions about the project or who are interested in helping may contact Sharon Bernthal shbernth@delta.edu or Amy McPike amymcpike@delta.edu