Deirdre NewmanThere are few things more soothing...

Deirdre Newman

There are few things more soothing in life than the soft warmth of a

fleece blanket on a chilly night.

Brownies and Girl Scouts from the Newport Harbor area worked

diligently Wednesday to make fleece blankets to help less fortunate

children and teenagers stay warm and cozy.

More than 190 young girls and troop leaders converged on the

auditorium of Eastbluff Elementary School, huddling in groups to make

a variety of colorful blankets.

The effort is part of the Orange County Girl Scout Council’s

attempt to collect 1,000 blankets to donate to the Binky Patrol in

April. The patrol is an organization dedicated to making and giving

handmade blankets to children and teens who are ill, abused or in

foster care.

“It’s really fun and it’ll keep them warm,” Hanna Stuart, 11,

said.

The troop leaders bought various colored fabrics with different

motifs, including footballs, basketballs and cars.

The girls combined two pieces of fabric, then used Popsicle sticks

to cut 5-inch strips on the ends and tied the strips into knots or

bows to keep the pieces of fleece fastened together.

Eastbluff Principal Charlene Metoyer said she was impressed by the

young girls’ altruistic spirit.

“You hear so much about how selfish children are and this just

illustrates all the wonderful and selfless things kids do,” Metoyer

said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].