120 blankets for 120 beds: Project for veterans helps Ogden woman recover from death of her husband
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By KRISTINE SHAWKEY
Standard-Examiner staff
OGDEN -- A 71-year-old woman who made 120 blankets to donate to the veterans nursing home says the project saved her after her husband died a year ago.
Joan Stolfus started the project in April after learning that a veterans nursing home would be built in Weber County.
Herbert, a veteran and her husband of 48 years, had died, and Stolfus needed something to keep her busy and help her rediscover herself.
"I took the project on because I couldn't find myself. I took care of him for 11 years," she said.
"When he passed away, I was lost. I crocheted, made all the curtains in the house, did the paneling and the paint, but didn't know what else I could do.
"I didn't know who I was. This has been a lifesaver."
She worked on her project and kept tabs as a funding bill made its way through the Utah Legislature.
"Once I heard it was approved, I called the veterans nursing home and asked how many beds there would be. They said 120, so I made 120 blankets."
She plans to keep the blankets at her home until the facility opens. Utah Department of Veterans Affairs Director Terry Schow has said construction may be completed by November 2009.
Stolfus bought material for the inside of the blankets right way.
"When I first purchased the blankets for the inside, I bought them from Wal-Mart. I saw it was made in the USA, and I was excited. I called the company, based out of North Carolina, and they agreed to donate the rest of the blankets."
Company officials contacted Stolfus after agreeing to donate the blankets, but then told her they couldn't send donations to an individual.
"That's when Buxton construction stepped in and had them delivered to their company and paid the postage," Stolfus said. "Their business is behind me, and we've been good friends for 30 years."
A Buxton Inc. General Contractors representative calls Stolfus the moving force behind the whole project, the one who made all the contacts and did all the work.
"She's an amazing lady. She's so thoughtful, with a heart of gold. She would do anything for anyone," said Susan Allen.
Stolfus said the blankets are meant to be practical and used, not just pretty things to be hung on a wall. The blankets' lining will keep veterans warm.
"I wanted them to be used, washed, dried and put back on the bed. When you're a GI and in a war zone, there is no longer time for impractical things," Stolfus said.
She said everybody she knew brought her materials. She purchased some herself, but most of it was donated.
With a garage half full of materials and her back bedroom a mess with supplies, she attributes her success to friends.
"This was something I could do. I don't have a lot of money, or time, or life, but this is one thing I could do," Stolfus said.
"I just feel like anything anyone can do in reference to children going to war and coming back, helping them makes a better person out of you."
Veterans have heard about her deed and stopped by her home to take pictures of the blankets.
With tears in his eyes, one explained to Stolfus the impact these blankets will have on soldiers.
"<2009>'One has to lay in a monotone room, in a monotone bed with monotone colors, to appreciate this. This is a touch of home -- they're going to appreciate it,' " she said the man told her.
The blankets vary in color and pattern, ranging from glow-in-the-dark frogs to traditional plaids.
"The men grab onto the plaids, not sure why, but the plaids grab their attention," Stolfus said.
However, "there's something special about every one to
Reader Comments
This is actually a great story and great outcome, good to finally hear something good coming out of Ogden. God Bless you Joan Stolfus.
This is my grandmother. I live in NC now. I am working on getting contact information.