Make a Blanket Day aims to set world record by creating 2,022 blankets for hospitalized children

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Fleece & Thank You (F&TY), Michigan’s largest provider of comfort care to hospitalized children, is pleased to announce its largest blanket-making event to date. Make a Blanket Day: Oakland County will combine F&TY’s two signature events, Make a Blanket Day Walled Lake/Novi and Make a Blanket Day Rochester for one epic event at the UWM Sports Complex (867 South Blvd. E in Pontiac) from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.

Presented by Kroger and Chief Financial Credit Union, Make a Blanket Day: Oakland County is an opportunity for volunteers to make fleece-tie blankets to comfort children facing extended stays in hospitals across Michigan. In 2019, volunteers helped make 2,017 blankets, setting a Guinness World Record for most no-sew fleece-tied blankets made during one single event. This year, F&TY aims to break its world record with a new goal of creating at least 2,022 blankets to distribute to children in hospitals across the state.

“In 2019, the Rochester community went above and beyond by weathering a literal storm to set a new world record for most fleece-tie blankets made at one event,” said Nicholas Kristock, founder and executive director of Fleece & Thank You. “The world may look slightly different in 2022, but hospitalized children still need comfort and support. I am confident that the incredible people of Oakland County and beyond will open their hearts and their hands to break our previous blanket-making record at this new, reimagined event in Pontiac.”

Since F&TY’s inception in 2015, more than 200,000 volunteers have stepped up to create over 130,000 fleece-tie blankets at more than 5,000 events. Overall, the organization has raised more than $2 million to create smiles and comfort young hearts with bright, colorful and cozy blankets.

“Chief Financial Credit Union has partnered with Fleece & Thank You for about five years now and we have been honored to be a part of this organization’s amazing movement,” said Ashley Chambers, director of business development at Chief Financial Credit Union. “Credit unions are created on the foundation of people helping people and that’s exactly what Fleece and Thank You does on such an impactful level.”

Registration for Make a Blanket Day: Oakland County is free and all participants will be entered into a drawing to win free groceries from Kroger for a year, as well as have the opportunity to fundraise for the event. A personal fundraising page will automatically be created upon each registration. Attendees can register as individuals, create a team or join a team. Community members also can show their support by donating online at fleeceandthankyou.org/donate. Every $30 donated helps make another blanket at this historic, first-of-its-kind event.

“When all of the volunteers come together with one common mission, you feel an overwhelming sense of community and purpose,” said Rachel Hurst, corporate affairs head of the Midwest Region for Kroger. “Kroger is proud to support Fleece & Thank You as it combine two of its signature events into one massive, heartfelt effort to provide as much comfort as possible to children battling illness.”

For more information and to register for Make a Blanket Day: Oakland County, visit give.fleeceandthankyou.org/mabdoc22 or email info@fleeceandthankyou.org.

Lindsay Labadie knows the comfort a F&TY blanket brings firsthand. She received one while battling a rare form of brain cancer in 2018 and has since stepped up to lead several F&TY fundraisers at her high school.

When asked to give her three top reasons for why people should attend the Make a Blanket: Oakland County event, Labadie said, “Because you get to help children like me feel safe and warm in the hospital and give them the courage to get through their treatment, it’s a lot of fun and you get to encounter amazing people and make new friends. It’s a no-brainer.”

About Fleece & Thank You

Established in 2015, Fleece & Thank You is a nonprofit organization based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that makes warm, colorful no-sew fleece blankets with encouraging video messages of support from makers, then delivers them to children in the hospital. It also hosts in-person and virtual blanket-making events to generate the bulk of its blankets. Annually, its goal is to create and deliver 30,000 blankets, one for every child entering the hospital for treatment in Michigan. For more information, visit FleeceAndThankYou.org.

About Chief Financial Credit Union

Chief Financial Credit Union prides itself on being the only financial institution headquartered in the Greater Rochester Area. With a commitment to empowering financial success and inspiring creative philanthropy, Chief Financial has been meeting the needs of our members since 1941 through its branch locations in Pontiac, Dearborn and Rochester Hills, Michigan. Chief Financial is also the official credit union of Leader Dogs for the Blind and Rochester University. For more information, visit www.chiefonline.com.

About The Kroger Co.

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more, visit thekrogerco.com.