BUFFALO, N.Y. — A hospital can be a very scary place for a child. Having a blanket of their very own can ease some of the stress of being sick and away from home.
With that in mind, a group of 12 WNY-based construction companies is throwing its support behind the 2020 'Warm Up WNY' Drive. The goal is to collect 10,000 blankets this year.
Since its start in 2016, the drive has donated more than 30,000 blankets to Oishei Children's Hospital. Every year, supplies begin to run low and community support is needed to donate more.
"Blankets comfort children facing frightening situations in more ways than one", said Frank Ciminelli II, president of Arc Building Partners. "When one of our children was rushed to the hospital several years ago, our family saw firsthand how blankets not only provide warmth and comfort, but also relieve a child's anxiety and ease the stress of a short of long-term hospital stay".
Blankets must be new due to the threat of infectious disease.
While the construction industry is specifically focused on getting local businesses and contractors involved, anyone can still drop off blankets at the hospital or at Senator Tim Kennedy's office located at 2239 South Park Avenue in Buffalo through the end of March.