Blanket America to broaden its Goal of One Million Helped to Include Haiti Earthquake Victims

Feb. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- Blanket America is helping America's poor while also helping Haiti through the sale of its Patchwork Heritage quilt. For every quilt, pillow and sham sold, a like item is donated. Blanket America is set to distribute 1 million blankets throughout the United States, while also distributing 80,000 sheets in Haiti.

Blanket America, a new non-profit organization created to help Americans in need, is broadening its reach to include victims of the Haiti earthquake. This January 12, 2010 tragedy struck the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is estimated that 230,000 men, women and children were killed and over a million left homeless after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck. Those numbers just keep rising. There are still bottlenecks preventing supplies from reaching those in need, though it is slowly improving. The most basic essentials are needed the most, including medicine, money, clothes, blankets, sheets, food, shelter and clean water. Americans have risen to the challenge of helping these poor people get what they need, but so much more needs to be done.

Blanket America originally set a goal of helping one million Americans in need. With over 35 million Americans living below the poverty line, Blanket America decided to take action. They created the Patchwork Heritage Collection. The collection includes the Patchwork Heritage quilt in king, queen/full and throw sizes along with decorative pillows and pillow shams. The collection is in response to President Barak Obama's call to action. This commemorative quilt features his entire inaugural address on its back, while the front of the quilt is comprised of 13 different fabrics representing the 13 original colonies. For every quilt sold a warm fleece blanket is donated to charity. For every pillow or sham bought, a like item is donated. Gifts in Kind International is acting as an intermediary to distribute the blankets throughout America.

Now Blanket America is broadening its scope in order to help victims of the Haiti earthquake. In addition to their buy one, give one program, Blanket America is providing 80,000 sheets to Haiti. While Blanket America does have a domestic initiative, they decided to help out the Haiti cause because the need is so extreme and Haiti's proximity is so close to America. There are millions of Americans with family and friends in Haiti that are affected by the devastation there.

There are many avenues to help support the Blanket America Initiative. You can become a fan on Facebook. For every 10 friends that join another blanket is donated to charity. Blanket America can also be followed on Twitter. Blanket America's website is www.blanketamerica.com.