Bringing Comfort to Children in Foster Care through My Very Own Blanket

Submitted by: Karen Hanus

MLA ’26 Local Service Project: My Very Own Blanket

Each year, the Medical Library Association selects a local service project that brings our community together for a cause that makes a meaningful difference. For 2026, MLA is proud to partner with My Very Own Blanket, an organization dedicated to providing handmade blankets to children in foster care.

This year’s project is especially timely, as May is National Foster Care Awareness Month—a perfect opportunity to show support and compassion for children who need it greatly. By joining this project, MLA members will help create a significant number of blankets, which will be donated to a local foster care agency in the Milwaukee area.

Whether you’re attending the MLA ’26 conference in Milwaukee, participating virtually, or not even attending the conference, there are several ways you can contribute to this heartfelt initiative:

1. Attend the Blanket Making Party in Milwaukee! If you’re joining us at the MLA ’26 conference, mark your calendar for May 20th at 4:30 PM! We’ll be hosting a blanket making party where you can connect with colleagues and craft a no-sew fleece blanket. To ensure your participation, purchase a blanket kit in advance. The kit will be shipped to the Local Assistance Committee in Milwaukee and reserved for you until the event. It’s a great way to make a tangible impact while enjoying collaboration and networking with your colleagues.  You can team up with someone else to make your blanket or just enjoy shared purpose with other “Blanket Angels.” Please order by April 17th!
2. Sponsor a Blanket Kit for Someone Else! Can’t make it to the conference or prefer not to make a blanket yourself? You can still help! By sponsoring a blanket kit, you allow another attendee to create a blanket at the party. Sponsor a kit, and it will be distributed to a participant who needs one. Your generosity will ensure a child receives a comforting blanket and help more in-person conference attendees to join in the fun. State or regional health science library organizations may want to pool resources to sponsor kits. Please order by April 17th!
3. Make a No-Sew Fleece Blanket Remotely! If you’re attending MLA ’26 virtually, you can have a blanket kit shipped directly to you. Create your blanket at home and deliver it to a foster care agency within your own community. This option lets you participate no matter where you are, spreading warmth and kindness beyond Milwaukee. We’d love to see pics of you and your blanket on the conference blog!
4. Make a Handmade Blanket and Bring it to the Conference! You can support the My Very Own Blanket mission by creating material quilts or yarn blankets. Personalize your handmade blanket by sewing a special MVOB tag onto the blanket. Order a blanket tag and sew it to your blanket prior to the conference.

By coming together as a community, MLA members can support foster children—and remind them that someone cares. Every blanket made and donated will embody a core value of our association: an open, welcoming, and collaborative environment within and outside the profession!

More information about My Very Own Blanket, including guidance for making your own blanket and the Founder’s TED Talk is available on the MVOB website.  If you have any questions about the blanket making party, please contact the Local Service Project subcommittee cochair, Karen Hanus.