Blanket day a big success in Polson

The St. Joseph Medical Center's Third annual Baby Blanket Day last month was a huge success.

Two dozen women arrived at St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, armed with sewing machines, sergers, cutting mats and ironing boards. Their object was to spend a few hours making receiving blankets for every baby born at the Center.

Last year, 144 babies were delivered at St. Joe's, many to mothers who were uninsured or underinsured, and that's how Baby Blanket Day was born.

Of those delivering mothers, 76 percent were Medicaid patients and 20 percent were teenagers.

Sending a baby home in a colorful, warm and well-made baby blanket is just what the doctors ordered, say the volunteers who turned out to stitch.

Several organizations chipped in to help the moms and babies as they begin their lives together: Fabric was donated by the First Interstate Bank, the Parish Council of Catholic Women from Immaculate Conception Church, and Candace Miller and Judy Eslick.

Sewing machines and sergers were humming all morning and, when every piece of flannel and fleece was cut and sewn, 222 baby blankets were complete and ready to give to new moms.

A special heartfelt "thank you" from organizer Toni Young goes out to the volunteers from across the county who gave their time and effort to such a wonderful cause. The nursing staff in the Birthing Center was delighted to have such beautiful blankets to give to their newborns.

The letter carriers across the valley were toting more than mail May 14. During their annual food drive, they also picked up 15, 272 pounds of food for the Flathead Food Bank.

People's vacations typically put a slump in the summer food donations, says food bank Director Robin Layton. Although the community always puts forth an exceptional effort during the winter holidays, during the summer months the food bank must purchase many products from local grocers to keep their shelves full. And the need never decreases.

The food was distributed among all five of the food bank's pantries.

Layton thanks all the hard-working mail carriers - particularly Leroy and Kari, who filled their trucks and filled the pantry shelves.

Vern Stewart of AARP's tax-assistance program salutes those who volunteered time to help community members get their taxes filed this year. The program offers a hand to elderly residents as well as those who can't afford assistance.

Nine volunteers donated 425 hours to assist 237 people with their taxes. These individuals worked every Monday from Feb. 1 to April 15.

Stewart also acknowledges and thanks CenturyTel for providing a free DSL line so that returns could be filed electronically, and Northridge Lutheran Church, which opened its doors free of charge to the public and also brought treats for the volunteers.

For more information about the AARP Tax-Aide program, call Stewart at 752-8062.