Thoughtful Thursdays Fights Cancer One Blanket at a Time

When Kim Jewett created her Thoughtful Thursdays campaign, she never quite expected it to grow as much as it has.

But the Plainfield resident, currently preparing to undergo radiation treatment for her second battle with breast cancer in the last three years, has started a movement that will only continue to grow and inspire.

Jewett was recently named a Huffington Post Person of the Day, which is awarded to individuals who are confronting issues and making a difference in their communities.

Several of the previous events that Jewett had done with Thoughtful Thursdays include volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, writing letters to service men and women and raising money for local charities.

Last Thursday, Jewett hosted a fleece-blanket making event at Grande Park Elementary in Plainfield. The blankets will be donated to cancer patients and their families to local hospitals and treatment centers.

Jewett’s husband, Mike, said they had plans to make over 250 blankets and donate a good portion of them to Edwards Hospital in the coming weeks.

The gymnasium at Grande Park was packed of students, parents and community members who came out to tie blankets.

“This is amazing,” said Kim Jewett, looking around at the clusters of students everywhere on the floor. “I am absolutely humbled. This is just so wonderful.”

"She's amazing," said second grade Grande Park teacher Erika Krohn, who worked alonside Jewett on a blanket. Krohn taught Jewett's son Tyler in both first and second grade. 

 The blankets featured patterns of everything imaginable, from flowers and baseballs to polka dots and professional sports teams.

Jewett said her next project she hopes to work on is a food drive for a local food pantry.

For more information or to join the movement, visit the Thoughtful Thursdays Facebook page.