Service Clubs Announce a New Approach to the Annual Haywood County Blanket Drive

Release date: 11/17/2022
Phone: (828) 452-1447

HAYWOOD COUNTY – Mountain Projects and Waynesville Rotary Club paired for many years to coordinate a popular Christmas holiday blanket drive.

Then, In 2021, Mountain Projects Executive Director, Patsy Davis contacted Bill Allsbrook of Waynesville Rotary and asked if their blanket drive could be moved to early November due to the rising heating and utility costs. Mountain Projects was already taking calls for assistance and were anticipating more.

To meet the need quickly, the two contacted seven Haywood County Service Clubs: Altrusa, Kiwanis, two Lions Clubs and three Rotary Clubs, who enthusiastically signed on to help. Then, as word got out in the community, the general public contributed and the effort brought in over 300 blankets and significant cash donations to help local families with heating and utility bills.

The Annual Haywood County Blanket Drive has evolved out of this success and in addition to ongoing Service Club efforts, all Haywood County residents are invited to participate. “We hope the community will join in. With the temperatures starting to dip and a 28% projected increase in heating and utility costs, we will need more blankets,” says Allsbrook.

“With increasing costs of basic needs, like groceries, particularly for ‘fixed-income’ seniors, we appreciate the help,” says Executive Director Patsy Davis, “Many senior households can’t afford their heating bills and Head Start families also need a helping hand.” The Blanket Drive and Winter Warmth campaign will be a significant component of Mountain Projects’ winter relief efforts.

New blankets can be dropped off at the Mountain Projects Office, 2177 Asheville Road, Waynesville (the old public health building roughly across the street from Junaluska Middle School) or online purchases can be shipped directly to the agency through December 23, 2022.

Mountain Projects

“Blanket Drive”

2177 Asheville Road

Waynesville, North Carolina 28786

Financial contributions towards winter heating bills can be made online at MountainProjects.org/giving or checks can be sent by mail. Please annotate checks with “Winter Warmth.”