Season of Sharing- Team or Remote Event DIY No-Sew Blankets for Veterans

​

Create blankets for veterans in VA Hospitals (approved for onsite or remote)

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

About This Volunteer Opportunity

​

This volunteer opportunity is set up as a virtual DIY event that is pre-approved for teams to facilitate a volunteer event in their meetings. In order to capture volunteer hours automatically, you can click the duplicate button at the top of this with your specific date, where and time. The event will go in our queue for approval with a special link to share with your teammates.

Nothing says, “I appreciate you!” like a warm, cozy, handmade No-Sew Blanket.

Making No-Sew Blankets is an easy way to make a big impact and is used in VA hospitals, etc. They are also a fun activity for people of all ages and groups of all sizes.

How to Participate:

This volunteer opportunity is open to everyone, and you do not need to be or become an Angel volunteer to participate. 

• Purchase 4 yards of fleece fabric of any color or design or a Fleece Throw Kit. We typically make blankets with 2 yards of a print fleece on one side and 2 yards of a complementing solid color on the other side— but you are welcome to make your blanket however you like!

• You’ll also need: 6″ x 6″ cardboard square template, scissors, masking tape or painters’ tape, decorative ribbon, and a hole punch

• Watch our video below for a quick tutorial on how to make a No-Sew Blanket

• Ship your completed blanket(s) to our headquarters in San Antonio

• Teams in San Antonio may send an email to usaaserves@usaa.com to see if prepaid inventory is available. Teams must commit to complete 20 blankets if USAA Serves provides the material.

How to Create the Blankets:

Next step is to purchase supplies needed to create them. With the approval of the unit's leader, materials can be purchased in bulk using the unit's G&A dollars or the leader may personally pay for the items.

Note: Items are not to be collected by employees nor paid for by employees and should NOT be reclassified to any philanthropic GLAC or UNIT codes. 

You'll also need several pairs of scissors and tape. Check out these items from Amazon to get you started on your paracord-making journey

Here are some links to items available on Amazon that can get you started!

Patriotic American Flag No-Sew KitCamouflage Classic No-Sew Kit

USA American Flag No-Sew KitIndependence Day No-Sew Kit

Step by Step on How to Make Blankets

Tips and Tricks for Making No-Sew Blankets:

Tip 1: You’ll need a pretty big area to spread out your blanket while you are making it. A large table is best. If you don’t have a large table and need to spread out on the floor, that works too! Just be sure to keep pets away from your project to ensure those with allergies can receive your blanket.

Tip 2: To keep your No-Sew Blanket from curling around the edges, tie every other fringe, and then flip the blanket over and tie the fringes you skipped. This evens out the tension and keeps the blanket from curling.

Tip 3: Color is fun! When selecting your fabrics, don’t shy away from color. Most of the blankets we deliver are handed out in hospitals which typically lack color and means that a colorful blanket would have even more impact!

Tip 4: Don’t overthink it. Fleece fabric hides imperfections. So don’t worry if your fringe strips aren’t the same size or your edges curl. The most important thing is the love and care you put into the project!

​

Where do they go?

Mail your blankets to:

Soldiers’ Angels No-Sew Blankets

2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107

San Antonio, Texas 78218

​

Mostly, the blankets will be hand-delivered to veteran patients in VA Hospitals across the country. They may also be presented to an expectant military/veteran family to help welcome their bundle of joy. They will even be shared with our team of volunteers in Germany to hand-deliver to service members hospitalized at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

​

To participate and track your volunteer time with this activity, log in to your USAA Serves account.

​​

Don’t forget to record your hours in USAA Serves to earn rewards for your Giving Account. Log in for more details.