The History of My Very Own Blanket

Michele Niklaus is a resident of Columbus, Ohio, who spent her professional life in pharmaceutical sales. Since leaving the industry, Michele Niklaus enjoys volunteering for the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference and supporting other nonprofits, including My Very Own Blanket.

The nonprofit My Very Own Blanket (MVOB) strives to provide every child in the foster system with a blanket, in the hopes of equipping them with comfort and security. The nonprofit started in 2000 as one woman, Jessica Rudolph, knitted one blanket for a child in the foster care system in Ohio. She then began asking family and friends to make blankets, with a goal of gathering 12 blankets. She surpassed her goal and collected 87, which were given to children in Delaware and Seneca counties. Two years later, she delivered blankets to 30 counties. By 2018, the organization was able to collect 15,016 blankets. MVOB now works to deliver blankets to every state.

MVOB relies on the support of blanket angels and work with individuals, groups, and businesses to gather blankets and provide guidance on how to make blankets of all kinds and materials. To find out how to get involved or supply a blanket, visit www.myveryownblanket.org.