Give a kid a blanket

Give a Kid a Blanket started in 2015 as a Community Activated Art Action, conceived and lead by artists Donna Turtle Sarten & Bernie Harfleet. The project has gone from strength to strength and is now a non-profit registered charity.

With the help of the community of kindness that has gathered around the project they collect blankets and other items of warmth and care, and gift them to kids and their families through service providers such as police, public health nurses, and social and community workers.

Since 2015 they have gifted over 60,000 blankets and over 40,000 other objects of warmth and care. They also support North Shore and Auckland Hospitals’ intensive care units with family support packs.

There is now also a Givealittle page to support the costs of running the project. It’s very easy to find and donate, just go to www.givealittle.co.nz and search “give a kid a blanket”.

With what is predicted to be an even harder winter for many kids in our country, with families facing the winter cold in cars, garages, sleep outs and damp cold housing, they hope to be able to help more families keep warm this winter.

If you would like to be part of this project contact Donna and Bernie at badwakk@xtra.co.nz or through Facebook, “Give a kid a Blanket”.
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There are numerous drop-off points around the city for donations, and a list is available on their Facebook page. Here are some local ones:

• The Sleep Store, 31 Portage Rd, New Lynn, 9.30am - 4.30pm Mon - Fri.
• State of Grace, 60 Portage Rd, New Lynn, Mon - Thu 9am - 1pm
• Titirangi Library, 500 South Titirangi Road

All donations need to be bagged or boxed, and all pre-loved donations must be washed.

Collections will finish this year on 19th July.