— TAMPA, Fla. -- Kids in the AdventHealth Tampa Pediatric Unit and Emergency Room will now have the comfort of soft, homemade fleece blankets thanks to the generosity of 25 volunteers. These volunteers arrived with fabric, needles and thread to support Blake's Blankets, an initiative dedicated to providing comfort to pediatric patients.
On Saturday, June 22, the volunteer event at AdventHealth Tampa’s Pepin Heart Center brought together 25 individuals who dedicated their time and skills to create more than 50 fleece blankets for children in the pediatric emergency room, pediatric unit and NICU.
Blake's Blankets was founded by Sandra Burnetter, the director of pediatric services at AdventHealth Tampa, and Rose Trier, a critical care lead in the pediatric emergency room at AdventHealth Tampa, in memory of Rose’s son, Blake.
Blake, who passed away on December 28, 2022, had cerebral palsy, was wheelchair-bound and non-verbal, and was known as "the coolest kid ever."
He was a frequent patient at the hospital, and Rose was inspired to honor his memory by giving back to other children in need.
“The outpouring of support from our volunteers is incredibly meaningful,” Rose Trier said. “It’s heartwarming to see everyone come together to not only remember Blake, but also to help children who may be sick and scared feel comforted with a soft blanket. Knowing that these blankets can provide a sense of safety and security during their hospital stay is truly special. Blake would have loved this effort, and I am grateful for the community’s support.”
Blake’s Blankets aims to provide handmade blankets to children in the pediatric emergency room, offering them a source of comfort during challenging times. Rose and her team at AdventHealth Tampa hope to expand this initiative to other AdventHealth hospitals, ensuring that more children can benefit from this important project.
The hospital plans to host its next Blake’s Blankets volunteer event in September and it will be open to the public. Each volunteer session provides community service hours for students.
For more information or to get involved with Blake’s Blankets, please see future events on AdventHealth Tampa’s event page.