Blankets 4 Kenton launched at the start of December and has blossomed into a beautiful display of community support.
Blankets 4 Kenton is a blanket drive started by Jacki and Don Dobrowolski in memory and honor of their late son Kenton.
Kenton was a local family man who ran his own business called Dunbar Landscaping and Construction.
He was only 33 years old when was admitted into the Palliative Care Centre in the Pasqua Hospital earlier this year for laryngeal cancer.
Kenton then passed away in October after his 3-year battle.
“Our son was kind and caring. There wasn’t one person in the world he wouldn’t help. So, my husband and I came up with the idea to do Blankets for Kenton. All of the Blankets that are going to be donated will be taken to the Pasque Hospital Palliative Unit or the children’s unit,” says Jacki when the drive first started.
Now, at the end of December, Jackie and Don have received roughly $8500 worth of blankets which amounted to almost 350 brand-new blankets.
The pair are now delivering dozens of bags of blankets to the Palliative Care Centre at Pasqua Hospital and the children’s unit at Regina General Hospital.
“Saskatchewan, Regina, rural areas, it’s an amazing province when you ask for things. People are so generous,” says Jacki.
Jacki shared that it was an overwhelming feeling to be back at the hospital but she says the doctors and staff were so grateful and kind.
“It was a great feeling because (the doctors) had expressed that these (blankets) are so greatly needed. They will keep a certain amount on palliative and hand them out to other cancer units. It was a good day,” says Jacki.
The Dobrowolski’s plan to make Blankets 4 Kenton an annual fundraiser.