Inmates at Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility make blankets for children in hospital at U of I

MT. PLEASANT - They say it takes a village to raise a child and the inmates at the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility have decided they want to be part of that village by making blankets for young ones in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

The idea started with Scott Fry, an inmate from out of state who got inspired by the kids while watching 'the wave” during Hawkeye football games. He began thinking about the kids and what he could do for them.

'I was up late one night thinking about how negative the prison is and I wanted to bring something positive, because honestly I don't think we have it as bad as those children. I don't know exactly what they're struggling with, but I think they have it harder than we do,” he said. 'So I'm trying to get these guys to realize that we don't have it that bad.”

Fry said he feels the other men at the prison tend to take many things for granted, their health included, and wanted to remind them there are other people out there who need a helping hand, too. He said in a way, the kids are in their own version of prison and if they can help them feel safer with a new blanket, he will be happy to help.

The blankets are made of thick fleece and tied together on all four sides. One side is as neutral color and the other is a pattern ranging from the Iowa Hawyekes, to Paw Patrol to Toy Story. Twenty-five inmates worked together to create 45 blankets on Friday, Aug. 16, which Fry said is their way of showing they care and are rooting for them.

'I know this isn't going to cure whatever they're going through, but if we can just bring a smile to their face, that means everything,” he said.

Melissa Shull, activities specialist at the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility said she was immediately on board when the idea to make the blankets came about. She said watching the pride on the inmates faces shows how much they care and how seriously they take their volunteer opportunity.

Donations of material and financial donations to purchase the material were given from local community members and businesses. Shull told the inmates that each time they tie a knot in a blanket, they should think about a child who will get one and will know there are people all over the state doing whatever they can to help them feel better.

'It's not just at the hospital. People care all over,” she said.

Rayshawn Cole knows the feeling of having a sick child all too well. The father of nine just welcomed a baby in May who had to spend time in the NICU. He said seeing the picture of his son with tubes in his nose and in IV in his arm made him think about the other kids going through difficult times and inspired him to want to help as many kids as possible through tying blankets.

Brandon Lyman said he wanted to help the kids because he believed it was the right thing to do. Reno Anderson agreed, and said he jumped on the opportunity to get involved because he saw it as a way to make a positive step forward in his life.

'You're changing your life. You may as well change somebody else's,” he said.

Donations of fleece material or financial donations to purchase material are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility, 1200 E Washington Street, Mt. Pleasant.