The Broomfield Kids Care Club, comprised of students from Stargate School in Broomfield, Colorado, recently completed a youth-led service project to help homeless children feel warm and special this winter. The club`s project, called "Blanket Hugs," was one of 70 recipients nationwide awarded a Disney Minnie Grant from Youth Service America, that enabled children and youth around the world to assume leadership roles developing and implementing community service projects.

The Kids Care Club partnered with The Denver Samaritan House to provide blankets to children staying at the homeless shelter over the holidays. The club toured the shelter before making the blankets and learned the residents, including children, are not allowed to bring personal items, other than clothes, with them to the shelter. The club`s blankets turned out to be very special gifts -- not only to provide warmth and comfort, but also as something personal for each child to keep.

After receiving a generous match from Jo-Ann Fabric for fleece, the club members shopped for fabric to make more than 50 individual and colorful, no-sew blankets for children at the shelter. During Thanksgiving weekend, 25 children gathered at Stargate School for a blanket party to tie and create the blankets. They also wrapped each blanket with a homemade tag that read "Made for you by kids who care." The blankets were delivered to The Samaritan House before the holidays. The children`s director decided the blankets were so special that she will be giving them to children for Christmas.

The Broomfield Kids Care Club was very touched by its experience with this project and was excited to be able to help brighten the holidays for children at The Samaritan House.