Rancho Cucamonga BP With Students Make 90 Binkies!

Regina Mendieta is helping needy children of the Inland Empire one blanket at a time

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Regina Mendieta is helping needy children of the Inland Empire one blanket at a time.

Binky Patrol is an all volunteer national nonprofit that makes homemade blankets to children born with HIV, infected with AIDS or other chronic and terminal illnesses, those who are abused, in foster care or experiencing trauma of any kind.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Regina Mendieta is helping needy children of the Inland Empire one blanket at a time.

Binky Patrol is an all volunteer national nonprofit that makes homemade blankets to children born with HIV, infected with AIDS or other chronic and terminal illnesses, those who are abused, in foster care or experiencing trauma of any kind.

Mendieta, the Binky Patrol Upland coordinator, was at John L. Golden Elementary School’s second Binky-a-Thon on Wednesday making fleece blankets for children and infants at local hospitals.

“A blanket reminds them that someone cares for them even though they’re going through something difficult,” Mendieta said.

Mendieta was joined by 60 students, more than 30 parents and three teachers in the school’s cafeteria.

More than 90 blankets were made that afternoon.

Last year, parents, students and staff made 130 blankets.

“This was a good life lesson for my daughter,” said Cammy Choi, who made five blankets last year. “Making these blankets teaches her how to help others who are less fortunate.”

Choi said her daughter picked out the patterns to the blankets – Winnie the Pooh, Hannah Montana and “High School Musical.”

Each blanket that is about 2 feet by 2 feet with knotted fringes.

After the blankets are complete, Mendieta will sew a Binky Patrol patch on each one, and by mid-March she will deliver the blankets to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Loma

Linda University Medical Center and San Antonio Community Hospital.
“A blanket gives a child a sense of security and even when these kids becomes older, they can hold on to that blanket and feel safe,” Mendieta said.