Blankets on display as part of Welcome Blanket Brookline, a group which makes homemade blankets and quilts to display in art exhibitions and then give to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Photo courtesy Hadassah Margolis
Amid federal immigration crackdowns, a group of crafters in Brookline aims to welcome recent arrivals to the United States the way they know best: with colorful, cozy blankets.
Welcome Blanket Brookline, the local chapter of the national Welcome Blanket project, makes homemade blankets and quilts to display in art exhibitions and then give them to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The group celebrated its third local exhibit, which is on display through Nov. 1, during an open house Sunday at All Saints Parish.
Hadassah Margolis, chief operating officer of the national Welcome Blanket project and founder of Brookline’s chapter, said the initiative brings a “power” of togetherness by uniting crafters on the issue of immigration.
“Being there for our neighbors is so important, and it’s just a really nice way to be able to turn our passion into action,” she said.
Welcome Blanket was founded by Margolis’ friend Jayna Zweiman, a Newton native known for co-creating the pink “pussy hat” that took the 2017 Women’s March by storm. Welcome Blanket was formed in response to the first Trump administration’s proposed wall between Mexico and the U.S., which promised to seal the nearly 2,000-mile border.
“We want to create a new American tradition,” Margolis said. “Instead of miles and miles of concrete keeping people out, we wanted to create miles and miles of warmth to welcome people in.”
The Brookline chapter outgrew its beginnings in Margolis’ living room and now holds monthly meetings at the Coolidge Corner Library. The group, which has an email list of 200 people and sees around 10 participants per meeting, has created over 400 welcome blankets, Margolis said.
AnneMarie Ellis, an 82-year-old retiree and Welcome Blanket Brookline participant, is a member of All Saints Parish and helped secure the space to display the blankets. She said as a descendant of immigrants, she feels a connection to those who had to sacrifice a lot to come to the U.S. for a better life.
“I’m sad about what’s going on in our country this year, and I can’t go out and protest as much as I’d like to,” Ellis said. This is my way of doing my part and welcoming people who maybe aren’t otherwise welcome to our country.”
Devora Baronofsky, a 71-year-old retired nurse and Welcome Blanket Brookline member, said the project provides a personal token of support to recent arrivals as they are resettled in the country.
“They need positive encouragement,” she said. “Rather than to go through something with pre-packaged, multi-produced furniture, something that’s handmade that somebody put time and effort and love into, it will be important for them.”
The exhibit features more than 20 welcome blankets that were knit, crocheted and quilted by the Brookline chapter’s members. After being displayed, the blankets will be donated to resettlement agencies and given to incoming immigrants and refugees.
A note card is attached to each blanket containing a message for the recipient — welcoming them to the country, offering words of advice and sharing the creator’s personal story of immigration.
“The note cards are so touching, because it really makes the political, personal,” Margolis said. “[They show that] we’re not any different from the immigrants and asylum seekers and refugees who are coming to our country now.”
Ellis said it feels great to see the group’s blankets make a direct impact. Last year, several of Welcome Blanket Brookline’s blankets were taken to a resettlement center in Worcester, and Ellis got to see a photograph of two young girls smiling with blankets she had made.
“It was wonderful to be able to see a person receiving a blanket. It was lovely,” she said.
Bridget Frey, a 52-year-old theater educator and Welcome Blanket Brookline member, said the initiative provides a “tangible” way to show immigrants they are valued upon entry into the U.S. despite federal immigration policies that might say otherwise.
“I believe that our country is strongest when we allow people shelter here and allow them to rebuild their lives here,” she said. “Our current administration is at the wrong end of the stick in thinking that being welcoming to people is somehow impoverishing Americans who are already here.”
Frey said she hopes the new exhibit puts “positivity out in the world” and inspires more residents to get involved with Welcome Blanket Brookline.
“There’s a lot of love here in our community for recent arrivals,” Frey said. “I hope people take away that love that we’re trying to share and put out in the world, and maybe some people will get excited and make their own welcome blankets.”
This story is part of a partnership between Brookline.News and the Boston University Department of Journalism.