All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol

It's Binky Patrol's 30th anniversary. Susan Finch marks the week with a look back at how one mention on The Oprah Winfrey Show launched the organization into 48 states almost overnight. She invites every chapter and supporter to celebrate this Saturday, gather friends, finish a stash project or a UFO, and send photos of how they marked the milestone. Susan also introduces Comforting in Color, a flexible new project any group, school, church, or business can run. Plus a look back at three decades of memories: golf tournaments, a summer of community quilting at a Wells Fargo branch, the Founder's Day Parade, braille binkies for blind children, and two throwback clips revisiting the chaos and joy of Disney's Give a Day Get a Day program and a massive Girl Scout troop blanket drive. Thank you to the national partners who made 30 years possible.   Learn More: https://binkypatrol.org Donate: https://binkypatrol.org/donate-to-binky-patrol  More Ways to Help: https://binkypatrol.org/ways-to-help/    Thirty years national — One Oprah Winfrey Show mention launched Binky Patrol into roughly 48 states almost overnight. Comforting in Color launch — A new flexible project any group, school, church, or business can run in their own space. Anniversary celebration invite — Susan invites every chapter and supporter to mark the milestone this Saturday with friends and a stash project. Time capsule reveal — Susan's chapter will finally open a sealed time capsule from the 1990s that's never been touched. Early supporters thanked — Susan thanks founding-era volunteers and partners, including the original golf tournament organizers and a Wells Fargo branch that hosted a summer of community quilting. Disney and Girl Scout memories — Two archived clips revisit the chaotic, joyful drop-off days from Disney's Give a Day Get a Day program and a massive Girl Scout troop blanket drive.

Four Binky Patrol directors — Miriam Siegel (Nebraska), Carolyn Berndt (Thousand Oaks), Terrie Madruga (Idaho), and Jeanne Malgioglio (Connecticut) — join founder Susan Finch for a 30th anniversary conversation that is equal parts laughter, tears, and gratitude. "I'm here to help. Can't sew, but here I am." — Carolyn Berndt, arriving eight months pregnant to her first Binky meeting You'll hear Miriam's story of finding a tiny newspaper ad and calling her mom instantly. Carolyn showing up eight months pregnant, unable to cut a straight line, and becoming a public speaking powerhouse. Terrie turning "I have no talent" into every volunteer having a title and a purpose. And Jeanne — the newest director — already mastering the art of moving 500 blankets across the country on donated trucks. Missing today but never forgotten: Tom, Marlys, and Donna Serra — each one a quiet, steady force behind the mission. This one will make you cry. In the best way.

Jeanne started her Connecticut chapter one town over from Newtown. After Sandy Hook, she and her friends made 3,000 green and white scarves. When it was over, everyone asked what was next. They found Binky Patrol. That was twelve years ago. Barbara joined as the chapter's voice, connector, and fundraiser — rheumatoid arthritis in her hands, no shortage of heart. Together they've delivered blankets to 199 students after a classmate's murder, to a Florida family stranded in Connecticut ICU beds, to a young man with spinal muscular atrophy who was given a year to live and is now 21. "All I want is for him to be remembered. When his friends say, 'What can we do for you, Barb?' I says, 'Don't forget his father. Don't forget me. But more importantly, don't ever forget him.'" - Barb This year the Connecticut chapter is aiming to hit 30,000 total blankets — a number that lands squarely on Binky Patrol's 30th anniversary. Listen and find chapter info at binkypatrol.org.

Five new Binky Patrol chapters have launched — St. Marys, Georgia; Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania; Janesville, Wisconsin; Sharon, Wisconsin; and a drop-off location near Oregon State University in Corvallis. Pennsylvania's newest chapter made 86 blankets at their very first Binkathon, with a football team and student volunteers showing up to help. June 20th marks Binky Patrol's official 30th anniversary — the date a shout-out on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996 turned a 30-day-old Laguna Beach group into a national organization, triggering 800+ calls in 48 hours. Some of those original chapters are still active. Oregon volunteers: storage cleanout is this Saturday. Fleece, flannel, cotton, batting, and soft washable yarn only. No stretchy fabric, no sheer curtains, no burlap. The October Binkathon is open to all chapters. Find yours — or start one — at binkypatrol.org. [00:00:00] Welcome and new chapters overview [00:00:26] New chapter — St. Marys, Georgia (Latoya Wertz, St. Mary's Senior Activity Center) [00:00:49] New chapter — Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (Pamela Scandale, 86-blanket first Binkathon) [00:01:12] New chapter — Janesville, Wisconsin (Dylan Thomas, Bodacious Brew Coffee Shop) [00:01:32] New chapter — Sharon, Wisconsin (Sherri Farning) [00:01:52] New chapter — Corvallis, Oregon drop-off near Oregon State University (Rania, Ryan, Zoe) [00:02:14] Mr. Ballen Grant and private donation funding social and chapter growth [00:02:45] Oregon storage unit cleanout — this Saturday; fabric needs [00:03:30] June 20th 30th anniversary preparation [00:03:41] The 1996 Oprah Winfrey Show mention and what happened next [00:04:06] 800+ calls in two days; original chapters still active [00:04:41] Mission — blankets as a reminder that kids matter [00:05:01] October Binkathon — find or host an event at binkypatrol.org [00:05:18] Final call to action — join, volunteer, start a chapter