Love? They’ve Got That Covered

For hours, students at St. Anne School carefully painted about 40 tiny blankets to comfort abused and abandoned children.

Their efforts were warmly received last week when they delivered the “binkies” to children under the care of Olive Crest Homes & Services for Abused Children.

“We thought they needed some love,” said Sherene Tabari, 13, of Laguna Hills.

About 550 students from the private school took part in an all-day “Bink-A-Thon” in preparation for the giveaway. They painted the blanket squares with hearts, rainbows and messages of love and hope. Then the blankets were sewn together by parents and volunteers.

Classroom representatives last Wednesday visited Olive Crest in Santa Ana to deliver the gifts.

“The reports from foster parents are the binkies calm and soothe children,” said Helen Lindsey, a supervisor at Hannah’s Children’s Homes. “They say the kids, wherever they go, they bring their binkies with them.”

The St. Anne students also learned how comforting a binky can be to a youngster who is grieving. The school’s third-graders made a special binky for a classmate whose father died in an accident two days before the Bink-A-Thon.

“We brought it to him before his dad’s funeral so he could hug it,” said a 9-year-old classmate. “We drew Beanie Babies because he collects them.”

Susan Jenkins, founder of the Binky Patrol Comforting Covers for Kids, said the Aliso Viejo-based nonprofit organization traditionally holds its annual Bink-A-Thon events in October. But St. Anne’s officials requested the special event at their school this year.

Nationwide, more than 30 chapters in 25 states make binkies for children who are terminally or chronically ill, abused or in foster care.

Information: (949) 499-2465 or 499-BINK.