Spotlight: Maddie's Blankets

Every day this week, Patch is profiling a local nonprofit agency. If there's a nonprofit that you think your neighbors need to know about, email Doug Tallman or .

Mission: Changing the world one blanket at a time.

Contact Information: Email: here; Address: P.O. Box 447, Oakton, Va. 22124; Website: www.maddiesblankets.org

Accomplishments: According to Maddie's Blankets website, as of March 2010, Maddie's Blankets has made over 2,000 blankets. The operation began in Virginia and has expanded to other states including North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, California and Kansas.

History: was founded in 2007 when Maddie Pelgrim, a 10-year Oakton resident, was trying to find a way to donate her time to a nonprofit. She had a hard time finding a good fit because of her young age. After visiting an animal rescue operation, she realized that many of these animals did not have anything but a thin pillowcase to sleep on. Pelgrim explains on her website, “Maddie’s Blankets was created to give these animals a soft blanket to sleep on and to give young kids an opportunity to make a difference in their community." Maddie’s Blankets has expanded to provide make comfort blankets for children in foster care and transitional housing situations.

Goals:  According to the website, Over the next two years Maddie’s Blankets would like to increase the impact of Maddie’s Blankets in other areas of Virginia, and expand into other states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and New Jersey. The foundation wishes to donate 10,000 blankets to transitional housing, foster and animal rescue organizations.

How you can help: You can donate money to this charity by following this link.