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Delivering comfort one blanket and hat at a time

July 31, 2025 / By Sharon Clairmont-Long, Christ UMC in Johnsonville / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Picture a car filled to the brim—delivering warmth, comfort, and love to children who need it most. The purpose is simple yet powerful, and the effort has been a true community collaboration. 

I'm a member at Christ UMC in Johnsonville. I also serve as a High Priestess of Airoc Court No. 42, based in Rutland, VT and am part of the fraternal organization inspired by Shriners International called Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America. Our focus is placed on philanthropy, social fellowship, and support for children’s healthcare. 

Many years ago, I began collecting blankets made by volunteers for Shriners Kids—anyone ranging in age from infancy to young adult who receive care through Shriners Children's, a network of pediatric specialty hospitals and clinics supported by Shriners International. 

During COVID, Ilah Walser gave me a collection of handmade hats that she and her sister, Breta Sisson from Ballston Spa UMC had knitted to donate to Shriners Kids. Since then, the two have continued their generosity, now creating hundreds of hats for us each year. 

It’s about more than just blankets and hats though. This year’s delivery also included handmade scarves, craft kits, and colorful pillowcases—each one a heartfelt reminder that these children are seen, loved, and supported.  

At Shriners Hospitals, every child undergoing a procedure or surgery receives a blanket to help provide comfort and calm throughout their treatment and recovery. We also sew pillowcases for children to take home, create outfits for the hospitals’ Build-A-Bear program, and make rag dolls that help explain the bandages, casts, or prosthetics children may have after surgery. 

Our first stop this summer was Shriners Hospital in Montreal, followed by visits to Shriners Hospitals in Boston, Springfield, and Erie. None of this would be possible without the tireless dedication of volunteers like Ilah and Breta. Joan Buvarsky knitted many of the scarves, and the women of Airoc Court—especially Mickey Super, Carol F. Yerg, Carol C. Yerg, Stephanie Adams, and Debbie Stone—lovingly hand-tied each blanket with care. 

For the past seven years, United Women in Faith has generously supported us with a grant that allows us to continue bringing comfort to children in need. Delivering blankets to the hospitals has once again become an annual tradition, after a brief pause during the COVID pandemic. 

As the shirts worn by this compassionate team declare: It’s all about the kids—and it always will be. 

TAGGED / Communications / Districts