Like a warm hug on a crummy day, locally hand- crafted blankets are now comforting cancer and child patients in Saskatoon hospitals and cancer clinics.
Visanbre Angel Blankets, founded by Heather Wall, is a Kindersley-based organization with a warm heart. Supported by dozens of local hands, the or- ganization seeks to supply knitted, crocheted, and even quilted blankets to patients receiving cancer treatment at the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic. Blankets are also given to children staying in the pediatric wards at Saskatoon hospitals.
“It’s an opportunity to share a little piece of encour- agement,” said Wall in a recent interview. “Cancer is a terrible thing; those who are fighting it need to hear that someone somewhere is thinking about them.”
Wall, like so many of us, speaks from personal experience. Over the last ten years, she has lost three aunts to cancer, with a recent loss just this August. “While [my aunt] was fighting the cancer, I made her a crocheted blanket. Later, my grandma told me just how much my aunt would love to curl up in the blanket when she was feeling especially low.”
This knowledge spurred Wall into further action. She called Saskatoon’s Cancer Clinic and asked if blan- ket donations were accepted. “The representative I talked to on the phone said that blankets were very welcome. Patients often have treatments that last 2-4 hours, the whole time they are often sitting in a chair and can get cold after a while.”
Determined to give these cancer warriors a friendly hand just when they need it, Wall started the Visan- bre Angel Blankets, in honor of her three aunts. Local women from her church and community heard of Wall’s vision and soon knitted, crocheted, and quilted blankets found their way to Wall’s home before being delivered to the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.
Wall says she is blown away by the community’s warm response. “The beautiful handiwork submitted by these women is incredible. The time, the skill, and the love that goes into these blankets can literally bring tears to your eyes.” Wall noted that she always wishes to give credit to each individual who works alongside Visanbre Angel Blankets, and seeks to be very transparent with all of the donations.
Each blanket has a hand crafted tag with an encour- aging Bible verse and note and includes contact in- formation for Wall. “We want these warriors to know that they are not alone, but instead we are thinking of them; we may not know them, but that doesn’t stop us from praying for them.”
Wall is now expanding the Visanbre Angel Blankets’ reach to child patients in the pediatric wards, and also hopes to eventually provide the same comfort to other areas of need, such as family crisis centers or other shelters. “I want this to carry on,” said Wall, referring to the Visanbre Angel Blankets’ organiza- tion, “the need is out there, and while we have the ability to give comfort, we should.”
Wall is always open for new ideas and volunteers; she says she is already considering adding hats and slippers to her growing list of items to bring to the Cancer Clinic. Those who wish to support the organi- zation may not only donate their talent and energy by making the items; they may also help by creating the labels, or even just donating material for the work. Those interested in Visanbre Angel Blankets may contact Wall at 306-430-8100 or drop in at the Kindersley Museum Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Images Source: Rob Cote
