Albany blanket drive for seniors on track to be the most successful yet
All over the community, balankets are piling up for distribution
By Mary Braswell
ALBANY — In the fall of 2014, CeCe Morris, host of the morning show at radio station WBZN 105.5 FM, had a dream about a way to bring some warmth to the holidays and winter months.
She shared her idea with Tee Taylor, recreation supervisor for the Albany Department of Recreation and Parks Department.
What Morris wanted was to have a blanket drive for the senior citizens of Albany and Dougherty County. With personal and professional obligations, Moore didn’t have the time necessary to carry out the project. One week later, however, Taylor showed up at the radio station with a flyer announcing the first “Stay Warm for the Holidays” blanket drive for senior citizens.
WBZN has partnered with the Rec & Parks for the blanket drive since the initial year, with approximately 1,000 blankets collected in 2014 for seniors 70 and older. In years two and three, the collection of donated blankets increased to more than 1,500 and the ages for distribution are now 55 and older.
If she could see each senior citizen in person, Taylor said, her message would be: “I just want you to know this is a gift from my heart for just being who you are.”
Robert Cross Middle Magnet School is participating in the blanket drive as a school-wide community service project.
“Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School became involved with the senior citizens blanket drive two years ago through partnership with the Lockett Station Community Center under the direction of Mrs.Tee Taylor,” Principal Thelma Chun said. “We teach our students the importance of community involvement and the importance of helping others in need. Providing blankets to our senior citizens is a great opportunity for our students to get involved and make a difference in the lives of a group of special people.
“This partnership gives our students the opportunity for many learning experiences that involve all academic disciplines. We try to use every moment as a teachable moment. This year, our goal was to collect 101 blankets. The 101 represents our College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) score. Our students, staff and parents donated over 245 blankets. I am very appreciative to Mrs. Tee Taylor for spearheading this community project and I am very proud of our staff, students and parents for always rising to the challenge when others are in need.”
Students will continue to bring in their donations through Wednesday.
Championed within the school by the Soaring Eagles Dance Team, sixth-grade math teacher and dance team director Yalonda Jackson challenged the students to meet or exceed the goal of 101 donations. Jackson went so far as to promise to dress in a matching outfit and perform with the Soaring Eagles for the student body if they reached that goal.
“Yes,” Jackson said Friday, “I will be dancing.”
When the blankets are delivered, Soaring Eagle member Kenyari Sawyer said, “I hope they are happy and know that someone loves them.”
Sixth-grader Cleymy Vicente, also a member of the dance team, said, “The blanket drive is important because some people can’t get out much and it feels good to give to people in need. It teaches us to think about others and not just ourselves.”
New to this year’s drive has been a request for pink blankets. Those will be earmarked for seniors who are breast cancer fighters and survivors.
“It is just a special way to say to those currently or previously affected by breast cancer that we recognize their struggles,” Taylor said.
On Friday, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office delivered blankets to the ARPD office on Monroe Street at Tift Park. So great has been the response to the sheriff’s office’s request that deputies had to use a trailer to transport the 600 blankets. Donations came from local businesses, sheriff’s office employees and other individuals.
Blankets will be given to shut-ins, nursing home residents and individuals. The DCSO will play a large part in the delivery process.
“We think seniors will feel safer having a deputy deliver their blankets,” Taylor said, “especially to individuals living alone.”
Those able to come the office at Tift Park to get a blanket are encouraged to do so.
Blankets will be accepted up to and including the day of distribution, which is Friday at the Tift Park office.
As last week ended, the blanket count exceeded 850. Still to be added are those from T.J. Maxx, Kmart, all 12 Albany Fire Department stations, Albany State University, Monroe and Westover high schools, WBZN, Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, First Monumental Day Care, and Charlie & Pearl’s, as well as several additional individuals, organizations and churches.
What started as a dream for a time-constrained radio personality has indeed become a community-wide reality.
Those interested in contributing can contact Taylor at (229) 430-5222 or 5219 or Morris at (229) 435-1055.
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