The folks at St. Joseph Parish of Dexter have been helping out Friends In Deed for over 10 years. That’s because every January, the families that are involved in the Religious Education Sessions hold a blanket and pillow drive. The drive started as the brainchild of Sally Carpinella, a teacher in the Religious Education program and long-time supporter of Friends In Deed. It continues to this day because the drive gives the children (preschool to 6th grade) a physical, concrete way to give.
Things may have gotten a little out of hand…Pillow fight!
“There is not a lot kids can do to help physically, so it’s nice that they can see the pile of pillows and blankets grow,” said Michelle Hochrein, the Director of Religious Education at the parish. The program helps reinforce for children how their help enables “those without to get what they need.”
In 2016, the drive provided Friends In Deed with 30 blankets, 15 sheet sets, 61 pillows, five comforters, one mattress pad and three crib sheets.
Quite a haul!