Blankets for Pets: Seattle, WA
Cold winters can be rough not only for humans, but especially for animals. Inspired by Sri Sathya Sai's message of showing love and compassion to all beings and not just our family and friends, Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) children from the Sri Sathya Sai Center, Seattle Eastside decided on a Blankets for Pets project to provide warmth and comfort to animals in need during winter. In December 2023, they partnered with the Seattle Humane Society - a local organization that rescues and cares abandoned and abused animals - by providing them with 25 handmade blankets. All the children were excited to take on the project, especially knowing the blankets were going to ease the suffering of these animals. The project involved 16 children, three SSE teachers and six parents.
First, a couple of adult volunteers and SSE Group 3 (12 years and older) students prepared several blanket-making kits, organized a demonstration session and created an online tutorial for the other SSE children at the center. Then, during the winter break, the children excitedly took the kits home. With the help of the demonstration session and online tutorial, they eagerly made the blankets using materials in the kit. Adult volunteers from the center collected the completed blankets lovingly prepared by the children and delivered them to the Humane Society.
The project gave the children a chance to take part in an easy and fun crafts activity which also served a larger humanitarian goal of keeping animals warm in the winter. They were extremely happy to do their part in easing the suffering of animals who have been sadly abandoned and in desperate need of love and care. An older student said, “I had a fun time creating the tutorial and I’m glad I could use my craft and video skills to help.” Another student stated, “I enjoyed spending time making this blanket, knowing it will make a difference in the life of a pet.”
It made the children feel gratified that every blanket they made, no matter how small, meant a great deal to the Humane Society and the pets living there.