I can’t thank everyone enough for the support and donations to make this possible, without their help this would have never been possible.”

Kim Breuch

At the start of the school year, when St. Joseph Catholic students in Boyd asked if they would be making tie blankets again for children in need at Marshfield Clinic, Kim Breuch, a 2nd/3rd grade teacher at the school, immediately knew this was a project they needed to continue.
“What inspired me to start this project was when I heard Lakken (Burzysnki)’s cancer was back last year and my class made her a blanket while she was going through her treatments. I reached out to Marshfield asking if there was a need,” she said. She added, “I also recall when my own family needed the Children’s Hospital that they gave my daughter a blanket. I brought the idea up to my class and they all were very excited and on board. I thought what an easy thing we can do to help put a smile on another child’s face when they are facing a difficult time in their life.”
With great excitement, the students dove into making blankets over the course of two months. Last year, the class had made around 45 blankets, but this year, with the goal set at 75, Mrs. B was initially nervous. “But I knew with the help and support of my co-workers and families we would be able to reach the goal. I am happy to say we were able to hit that goal of 75 blankets. The smile on the kiddos’ faces made my heart melt,” she commented.
Creating the blankets was a team effort, with students working in groups. Some lined up the fabric and pinned it together, while others cut the strips. Teachers also helped with the cutting process to stay ahead of the students tying the blankets. The process allowed the students to contribute in different ways, whether individually or as part of a group. The success of the project was made possible through generous donations from the community. Parents contributed fabric, money to purchase fleece, and even sent fleece in the mail from other areas. Mrs. B shared her gratitude, “I can’t thank everyone enough for the support and donations to make this possible, without their help this would have never been possible.”
Mrs. B mentioned that the students all seem very excited about making and giving the blankets to other children and they understood the value of giving back to others. One student told her, “Mrs. B the best part of this project is giving, it’s not about getting presents” and another said, “We can always serve the Lord at any time of the year doesn’t have to just be during the holidays.”
Mrs. B believes that instilling the importance of serving others at a young age will have a lasting effect. “I believe teaching children at a young age that serving the community by helping out however is a way to serve the Lord. My students in my class are always trying to help however they can, and I feel that maybe I have rubbed off onto my students. I am someone who tries to help whoever or, however. I feel you get so much more joy or happiness when helping others.” She hopes that the lessons from this experience will stay with her students as they continue to grow.
Taylor Turner, Data Services Administrator at Marshfield Clinic Health System, came to St. Joseph Catholic School to pick up the blankets and explained that Child Life Specialists at Marshfield Children’s Hospital aim to give a tie blanket to each patient they interact with. “In 2023, our Child Lift Specialists saw over 11,000 unique patients, so the need for tie blankets is always high. Blankets are a wonderful way to provide comfort and happiness to young patients, especially this time of year, and having a variety of blanket patterns and sizes allows the Child Life team to choose the perfect blanket for each patient.”
Looking ahead, Mrs. B is hopeful that the tie blanket project can continue, as long as the support from families, parish members, and the community remains strong. She also has plans to expand the project to create blankets for nursing homes, recognizing the need to bring comfort and a smile to the face of elderly individuals who may not have family around. “I know first-hand how many don’t have family that is around or that even comes to visit. This is a project I am hoping to accomplish this coming winter/spring.”
Mrs. B expressed heartfelt thanks to all who supported the tie blanket project. “I can’t thank the school families, parish members, and community enough for their support and donations to make this possible.”