A group of volunteers at LCU's Talkington Center for Nursing Excellence sewed and prepared dozens of weighted blankets for special needs children across the state Saturday.
"Sharing the Weight" crafts these specialized blankets by hand, and they're donated to provide comfort for children who need it in social situations.
"It's like a bear hug, is what it is," volunteer Darla Smith said. "It helps to calm them down so they actually feel more confident. They sleep better -- that's the biggest thing -- and they do overall, in school, and everything."
Smith said the main reason for these blanket-making parties is to provide them for free to families that need them. A weighted blanket normally costs between $150 and $500 apiece, depending on their size and weight. "Share the Weight" reported there are more than 200 children who would benefit from weighted blankets across Texas, and the group expected to craft nearly 50 Saturday alone.
For more information on weighted blankets, to register a child to receive a blanket, or to volunteer to craft or send in weighted blankets, visit Sharing the Weight's website.
