Local residents Jacki and Don Dobrowolski started a blanket drive at the start of the month in memory of their son Kenton.
Kenton passed away in the Pasqua Palliative Care Centre after a three-year battle with laryngeal cancer.
“There’s just so many blankets already. It’s been wonderful,” says Jacki.
The Dobrowolski’s were able to promote the drive through local media outlets and social media and since then have seen an outpouring of generosity and support from the community.
The Dobrowalski’s couldn’t be more thankful.
While on the phone with 620CKRM, Jacki grew emotional from the support they’ve seen, “We’re just so grateful to people in this province and our city and surrounding communities. They’re making this a very amazing event for us,” she says.
The number of donations has exceeded their expectations as a few hundred blankets have been collected and there’s still more to be counted.
Jacki also shared that some of the blankets donated are sentimental and hand-made. They came from a woman whose mother passed from cancer. Her mother made blankets and sold them at craft sales.
“She brought in every single one that was left. They’re beautiful,” says Jacki.
Not only has the Dobrowolski’s seen the community’s generosity in blanket donations but they’ve seen a large number of monetary donations as well.
“We’ve had money sent (to us) from out of the province because someone’s father or mother was in palliative care,” says Jacki.
She shared that they’ve raised roughly $1400 for the drive. The money has been used to purchase more blankets.
The Dobrowolski’s will be giving the blankets to Pasqua Hospital’s Palliative Care Centre as well as the children’s unit on December 22 and 23.
Blanket donations are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the following locations:
