Saturday, December 15th, 2018
Teen's project gives comfort to children in area hospitals
By Sydney Albert
Photo by Sydney Albert/The Daily Standard
Alexandria Koch, 16, sits with a blanket she customized for a child in need. The Coldwater sophomore sends handmade blankets and care packages to children fighting diseases and disorders across the country. She customizes blankets to fit a child's interests.
COLDWATER - A local teenager who knows what it means to fight for her health hopes to spread holiday cheer to other children fighting battles of their own.
Alexandria Koch, 16, founded a small nonprofit organization, AlexsAngelBlankets, through which she customizes blankets and creates care packages for hospitalized children. The charity was launched not long after Koch herself was hospitalized last summer due to anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder that nearly took her life.
"I was hospitalized, and I was given a blanket and care package, that's where that came from. And ever since then, I've always thought … You know, seeing all the kids in the hospital and seeing how they have to stay there multiple, multiple months or even years of their lives. So I always wanted to help make a blanket and care package to make them smile again."
Koch said she taught herself how to sew and make the blankets, with the help of YouTube videos and some tips from people on Instagram who do similar projects. She makes blankets for kids up to 17 years old, customizing their size and their looks to fit the recipient's preferences, and has sent them to kids in need across the country. Koch works on them whenever she has free time.
"I spend every week probably at least 10 hours (on AlexsAngelBlankets). It takes a long time. It takes me about an hour to make a blanket," Koch said.
She also puts together care packages full of toys and treats such as coloring books, crayons and bubbles. More than 30 blankets have been sent to kids through her organization, and Koch said her biggest accomplishment has been sending 50 care packages to Dayton Children's Hospital with the help of the Coldwater Tri Star FFA.
The FFA also is assisting with a fundraiser for Koch's organization. For $25, people can sponsor a blanket, with the price covering the blanket and shipping costs. About $900 has been raised so far, enabling Koch and the FFA to make and send between 32 and 35 blankets.
Koch said she's kept in contact with several of the recipients and their families. The families have allowed her to share their stories and give updates on their children through social media. She has also received pictures and videos of the kids opening their packages, something she said "makes my heart really happy."
By busying herself with helping others, she's also been helping herself in her battle with anorexia nervosa.
"Doing these blankets has really helped. My mental health is much better, seeing the smiles on the kids' faces and knowing that other people out there are battling the same battle I am."
