How Binky Patrol Brings Hope to Suffering Kids
The goal of Binky Patrol is to give every needy child their own security blanket -- no matter who they are, or what they're going through.
Break out those needles, folks, it's time to knit a Binky or two. And just what the heck is a Binky, you ask? Why, a Binky's anything that brings comfort to a little kid. You probably had one yourself when you were little.
For me, a Binky was a pacifier. (Okay, so I'm a little weird). For most kids, though, a Binky is a beloved security blanket. Blanky = binky, get it? Think of the character Linus in the Peanuts comic strip, and you'll understand.
SOLACE IN KNITTED FORM
For the thousands of volunteers who knit for Binky Patrol, a Binky's more than just a security blanket. It's a special talisman made of equal parts knitting, love, and compassion, created especially for a kid who needs their help.
Binky Patrol was born in 1996, when Susan Finch's mother asked her if she wanted to help sew blankets for a local shelter near Laguna Beach, California. The idea struck a chord with Susan, and within a few hours, she'd created a name and logo for a new organization dedicated to giving blankets to kids.
Binky Patrol got a huge boost early on, after Oprah Winfrey mentioned it on her talk show.
While most volunteers crochet or knit their Binkies, Binky Patrol also accepts sewn and quilted Binkies. Once they receive a donated Binky of whatever type, they sew a Binky Patrol tag into one corner, and send the blanket on to a child who needs it. So far, they've handed out 300,000, and the movement's still growing.
QUIET GIVING
Teenagers, preemie babies, sick or in trouble, it doesn't matter: any child who wants or needs a Binky gets one. That's the essence of what Susan Finch calls "quiet giving," in which people combine their talents to help a child in need, without asking why.
So far, there are 110 Binky Patrol chapters in 40 states. They churn out Binkies galore in Bink-a-Thons, get entire Girl Scouts troops involved, and have some members who produce a Binky a day, day in and day out.
So -- are you ready to get your Bink on?
WHERE AND WHAT TO GIVE
Binky Patrol maintains a website that keeps track of local chapters all over the country. Check out the Binky Patrol site if you want to become involved.
Binky Patrol blankets should be no smaller than 36 inches square, and you can use any pattern you like, as long as it meets their other requirements. First, you should use a yarn that's machine washable: cottons, washable wools, acrylics, and blends are preferable. Second, your Binkies should be soft but sturdy, able to handle the "high" cycle on most dryers.
These days, Binky Patrol's greatest need is blankets for troubled teens, so larger Binkies (up to the size of a twin bed cover) are preferred. If you decide to knit a teen Binky, it's best to use yarn in a mature color that won't offend teen sensibilities.
