Blankets For Kids Battling Cancer: Fountaingate Gardens Of LI Residents Knit For Good

COMMACK, NY — Two residents of an independent living facility in Commack knitted more than a dozen blankets for children and young adults battling cancer, Gurwin Healthcare System announced.

Audrey Goodfriend and Phyllis Stark, avid crocheters and knitters who live in Fountaingate Gardens, a 62-and-older community, learned of We Care Blankets, a charity aligning with their hobby.

The duo recently welcomed Tamara Baker, founder of the charity, to their community to donate more than a dozen blankets for children and young adults who are going through chemotherapy.

Baker started We Care Blankets more than two decades ago because she saw how cold children in treatment could be while in the hospital.

"We have a network of more than 25 hospitals, and we supply them with 15,000 blankets each year, keeping children warm and comforted while they battle cancer," Baker said in a news release. "I’m so thankful for volunteers like Phyllis and Audrey."

Stark, while packing the blankets for pick up, said We Care Blankets is an "amazing cause" for people going through a difficult time.

"It creates a positive impact not only on the recipients, but also on the broader community, inspiring others to get involved!" Stark said.

Goodfriend, who crochets while attending the weekly Needler’s Group at Fountaingate Gardens as well as while watching her New York Mets play, called combining passions with a good cause a "win-win."

"We enjoy our leisure time, but also make a positive difference in the lives of others," Goodfriend said.

Baker noted that a network of volunteers meets regularly to wrap the blankets she has gathered from her volunteers, usually wrapping between 1,000 and 2,000 blankets for delivery to the many hospitals in the We Care Blankets network.

For information or to volunteer for We Care Blankets, contact 516-797-2250 or visit their website.

Fountaingate Gardens is a 129-apartment independent living community on Gurwin’s 36-acre campus in Commack.