Events

The MrBallen Bink-a-Thon is done for another year, and four chapters made more than 850 Binkies. Beaverton bagged 257 in one day with about 50 volunteers. Temecula ran a drop-off event, and both Temecula and the Monroe, Connecticut chapter landed new grants. Susan thanks the church, local businesses, and volunteers who made the day possible, and shares where about 150 Oregon blankets went right after the event. She also has holiday ideas for chapters, including a casual bring-your-own-fabric sewing day, using 4x6 postcards to save on postage, and turning fleece cutaways into no-sew hats and scarves. Chapter leaders get an update on simpler quarterly reports. And if you or someone you know needs community service hours, Susan explains where to start on binkypatrol.org.
 
Key Points
Four chapters made more than 850 Binkies. Temecula made about 385, Beaverton 257, Monroe, Connecticut about 125, and Texas about 100.
Beaverton made 257 in one day. About 50 volunteers filled Holy Trinity Catholic Church and bagged 257 blankets in one day.
Temecula went drop-off style. Kimberly's chapter dropped off 325 blankets and still had 60 more set aside for another delivery.
Two chapters won grants. Temecula received a $1,500 Walmart grant and Monroe, Connecticut received $5,000 to fill requests from Al's Angels.
Holiday projects keep chapters close. A couple of hours with bring-your-own-fabric sewing keeps volunteers working and visiting between big events.
Reports are getting simpler. Quarterly chapter reports are shorter now, and chapters can stop mailing paperwork in.
Community service hours count. The Community Service page under Ways to Help on binkypatrol.org walks people through making blankets for required hours.
Takeaways
A one-day event with about 50 volunteers can produce hundreds of blankets when the space, supplies, and teaching are in place.
A drop-off event works for chapters that can't host an in-person day.
Small grants from local businesses like Walmart add up for chapters that make blankets year round.
Local partners can give more than money. Space, coffee, fabric, borrowed sewing machines, and matched volunteer hours all made this event work.
Smaller sewing days between big events keep chapters close and productive.
Chapter reports are simpler now, and paperwork no longer needs to be mailed in.
Making blankets can count toward required community service hours.

Susan Finch marks 30 years of Binky Patrol with an update for chapter leaders and volunteers everywhere. Directors are flying in from across the country for a September 19 gathering in Thousand Oaks, and Susan shares the story of a Utah mom raising nine kids who wants to turn blanket making into a family project and maybe a new drop-off location. Chapter report forms are getting simpler, Bink-a-Thon season kicks off October 17, and Susan explains why Binkys Out matters more than Binkys In. New volunteer paths are opening too, including a Greek life partnership starting at Oregon State. Whether you lead a chapter, want to start one, or just want to make one blanket and give it away, this episode has a place for you.

It's Binky Patrol's 30th anniversary. Susan Finch marks the week with a look back at how one mention on The Oprah Winfrey Show launched the organization into 48 states almost overnight. She invites every chapter and supporter to celebrate this Saturday, gather friends, finish a stash project or a UFO, and send photos of how they marked the milestone. Susan also introduces Comforting in Color, a flexible new project any group, school, church, or business can run. Plus a look back at three decades of memories: golf tournaments, a summer of community quilting at a Wells Fargo branch, the Founder's Day Parade, braille binkies for blind children, and two throwback clips revisiting the chaos and joy of Disney's Give a Day Get a Day program and a massive Girl Scout troop blanket drive. Thank you to the national partners who made 30 years possible.
 
Learn More: https://binkypatrol.org
Donate: https://binkypatrol.org/donate-to-binky-patrol 
More Ways to Help: https://binkypatrol.org/ways-to-help/ 
 
Thirty years national — One Oprah Winfrey Show mention launched Binky Patrol into roughly 48 states almost overnight.
Comforting in Color launch — A new flexible project any group, school, church, or business can run in their own space.
Anniversary celebration invite — Susan invites every chapter and supporter to mark the milestone this Saturday with friends and a stash project.
Time capsule reveal — Susan's chapter will finally open a sealed time capsule from the 1990s that's never been touched.
Early supporters thanked — Susan thanks founding-era volunteers and partners, including the original golf tournament organizers and a Wells Fargo branch that hosted a summer of community quilting.
Disney and Girl Scout memories — Two archived clips revisit the chaotic, joyful drop-off days from Disney's Give a Day Get a Day program and a massive Girl Scout troop blanket drive.

Five new Binky Patrol chapters have launched — St. Marys, Georgia; Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania; Janesville, Wisconsin; Sharon, Wisconsin; and a drop-off location near Oregon State University in Corvallis. Pennsylvania's newest chapter made 86 blankets at their very first Binkathon, with a football team and student volunteers showing up to help.
June 20th marks Binky Patrol's official 30th anniversary — the date a shout-out on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996 turned a 30-day-old Laguna Beach group into a national organization, triggering 800+ calls in 48 hours. Some of those original chapters are still active.
Oregon volunteers: storage cleanout is this Saturday. Fleece, flannel, cotton, batting, and soft washable yarn only. No stretchy fabric, no sheer curtains, no burlap.
The October Binkathon is open to all chapters. Find yours — or start one — at binkypatrol.org.
[00:00:00] Welcome and new chapters overview[00:00:26] New chapter — St. Marys, Georgia (Latoya Wertz, St. Mary's Senior Activity Center)[00:00:49] New chapter — Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (Pamela Scandale, 86-blanket first Binkathon)[00:01:12] New chapter — Janesville, Wisconsin (Dylan Thomas, Bodacious Brew Coffee Shop)[00:01:32] New chapter — Sharon, Wisconsin (Sherri Farning)[00:01:52] New chapter — Corvallis, Oregon drop-off near Oregon State University (Rania, Ryan, Zoe)[00:02:14] Mr. Ballen Grant and private donation funding social and chapter growth[00:02:45] Oregon storage unit cleanout — this Saturday; fabric needs[00:03:30] June 20th 30th anniversary preparation[00:03:41] The 1996 Oprah Winfrey Show mention and what happened next[00:04:06] 800+ calls in two days; original chapters still active[00:04:41] Mission — blankets as a reminder that kids matter[00:05:01] October Binkathon — find or host an event at binkypatrol.org[00:05:18] Final call to action — join, volunteer, start a chapter
 

In this update episode, founder Susan Finch shares what Binky Patrol chapters are doing right now, from sending handmade blankets to tornado victims in Illinois and Indiana (in partnership with Reach Out Worldwide) to launching the Active Seniors campaign, expanding Greek life events in Connecticut and Oregon, and preparing for Bink-A-Thon in October.
The official 30th anniversary lands on June 19th — the date Binky Patrol went national, time zone by time zone, when it appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show for National AIDS Awareness Day. Susan gives a shout-out to author Jennifer Chiaverini, whose book Round Robin from the Elm Creek Quilts series is part of their celebration reading list.
The Bink-A-Thon, sponsored by the Mr. Ballen Foundation, is ramping up. And Mr. Ballen himself is heading out on a live storytelling tour this summer — including a stop in Portland, which happens to land right around the 30th anniversary date.
Susan also breaks down all the ways to get involved: become a chapter, host a one-time event, or set up your business as a drop-off location — with your logo, your info, and your choice of where local blankets get delivered.
One volunteer hour a month. That's all it takes.
Learn more and get involved at binkypatrol.org
Links Referenced in This Episode
binkypatrol.org — Binky Patrol main site
binkypatrol.org/active-seniors — Active Seniors campaign
binkypatrol.org/greek-life — Greek life campaign
roww.org — Reach Out Worldwide (tornado relief partner)
ballenstudios.com — Ballen Studios (live storytelling tour dates)
mrballen.foundation — Mr. Ballen Foundation (Bink-A-Thon sponsor)
tvctv.org — TVCTV (local community cable, PSA submissions)
 
 

When the Altadena fires devastated Southern California communities, two organizations came together in an extraordinary way. Binky Patrol Director, Jeanne Malgioglio found ROWW while we and Al's Angels were looking for a way to respond and directly help the fire victims in Altadena. Susan Finch sits down with John Brotherton, Outreach and Partnership Manager for Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW), to discuss how a charity founded by actor Paul Walker has evolved into a powerhouse of compassionate disaster response. From curating personalized care packages in garages to operating full-scale distribution centers, John shares the intimate story of how dignity, authenticity, and community mobilization transformed chaos into hope. This conversation reveals the unexpected ways everyday skills—from truck driving to coffee making—can save lives during a crisis.
About ROWW:
Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW) is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit founded by actor Paul Walker. In January of 2010, after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, Walker spontaneously organized a relief team that responded to the disaster. On the trip, he identified a gap between the availability of skilled resources and the requirement for such personnel in post-disaster situations. Upon returning from Haiti, ROWW was established with the purpose of fulfilling this unmet need.
ROWW continues to respond internationally to natural disasters worldwide ranging from earthquakes to hurricanes.
The organization's teams are small, allowing them to gather and deploy quickly. They pack efficiently so that they can carry their gear into the most remote and desperate regions. These are the people that have been excluded from the media attention and are too small or inconvenient for the larger non-profits to reach.
It would have been far easier and cheaper for Walker to affiliate his efforts with an existing organization and check in from time to time, but he didn't. He chose to get dropped off from a helicopter in Haiti, during a very unstable time, without a plan, in hopes of personally helping those in need. He accomplished his goal and was hooked. Next, he shifted his schedule around to go to aid those in need in Chile. Again, he not only funded the trip but also gave his own time. After a few more deployments he was finally at peace with his profession as he knew it was allowing ROWW to exist.
Reach Out WorldWide (ROWW):
Website: https://roww.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reach-out-worldwide/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReachOutWW/
Instagram: @reachoutworldwide
Twitter/X: @ReachOutWW
Volunteer/Contact: [email protected]
Binky Patrol:
Website: https://binkypatrol.org
Podcast Site: https://binkypatrol.show
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/binky-patrol/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BinkyPatrol/
Instagram: @binkypatrol
Twitter/X: @BinkyPatrol

In this segment from a recent Binky Patrol meeting, Area Coordinators who participated in the MrBallen Bink-a-Thon event share strategies for volunteer recruitment. Caitlin Peterson-Woolard discusses challenges with community outreach, while experienced coordinators Susan Finch, Terrie Madruga, Kathy Taylor, and Jeanne Malgioglio offer proven solutions including:
Leveraging church bulletins and service organizations
Engaging high school sports teams and clubs
Utilizing corporate volunteer programs
Maintaining relationships with past volunteers
Strategic use of social media and local publications
The discussion highlights immediate tactics and long-term relationship-building for expanding their volunteer base. We hope you find it helpful! So many ideas that only take a bit of time and digging for the best contacts.

In this first episode of our special two-part series, we're taking you inside our nationwide Bink-A-Thon debrief meeting, where chapter coordinators share their heartwarming stories from this year's MrBallen Foundation event. From Meridian, Idaho to Connecticut, from Southern California to Virginia, our volunteers united in their mission to create comfort one blanket at a time.
Join Susan Finch and chapter leaders, including Kathy Taylor from Irvine/Orange County, whose partnership with Girl Scouts doubled their volunteer turnout; Jeanne Malgioglio from Connecticut, whose team completed 145 blankets for Al's Angels and the Center for Family Justice; Director Terrie Madruga, who launched a new chapter in Meridian, ID with patriotic scarves for veterans; and Caitlin Peterson-Woolard from Woodbridge/Lexington, whose Girl Scout volunteers showed incredible enthusiasm, completing 15 blankets in just 30 minutes plus the 150 made the by the rest of the group. These stories showcase the power of community service and the impact of dedicated volunteers nationwide.
Learn more about Bink-A-Thons here.
Connect with the chapters featured in this episode here:
Jeanne Malgioglio - Monroe/Trumbull, CT
Caitlin Peterson - Lexington, VA
Terrie Madruga - Meridian, ID
Kathy Taylor - Irvine, CA
Susan Finch - Beaverton, OR
 
Thank you to the MrBallen Foundation for sponsoring this event!
 

In this episode, we're joined by Keri Banghart from Microsoft's Corporate, External and Legal Affairs team in Seattle. Keri recently organized a blanket-making event for her team as part of Microsoft's annual giving campaign. We'll discuss how they set up the event, its impact on local and remote team members, and the creative ways they're supporting their community. Keri shares insights on coordinating volunteer efforts in a large corporation and how these initiatives foster team bonding while making a difference. We'll also explore the power of hands-on volunteering and its ripple effect in raising awareness for local needs. Join us for an inspiring conversation about corporate giving, community impact, and the joy of creating comfort for those in need.
Action Item List: Lot of ideas here - https://binkypatrol.org/ways-to-help/
Organize a blanket-making event for your team or company
Research local shelters or organizations in need of blanket donations
Set up remote participation options for team members who can't attend in person
Prepare materials in advance (e.g., pre-cut fabric) to streamline the event
Track volunteer hours and utilize company matching programs for donations
Take photos of the event and completed blankets for sharing and promotion
Consider partnering with other organizations or nonprofits for larger events
Explore options for regular or annual volunteering events
Involve family members and friends in blanket-making activities
Share your experience with other departments or companies to inspire similar initiatives
#MicrosoftGives#MicrosoftVolunteers#MicrosoftCommunity#TechForGood#MicrosoftCSR#CorporateGiving#VolunteerEngagement#RemoteVolunteering#CommunityImpact#TeamBuildingForGood

There are many ways to list your volunteer opportunities. This short episode goes over some of our favorite volunteer and matching fund portals. They include: volunteermatch.org, benevity.com, and joindeed.org.
Tips include:
Have a checkbox that they agree to have their photos taken and used for your site and social media accounts
Link to a form if you are posting this somewhere like NextDoor or Facebook to get their info into your database
Include a checkbox for privacy policies and your promises to them.
Be detailed and keep the opportunities simple. 
Create a short video for the opportunity landing pages and specific landing pages on your site encouraging people to volunteer.