In Vermont, Handmade Blankets Welcome Refugees, Immigrants
2023-04-06
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1An effort called the Welcome Blanket project aims to help refugees by giving them hand-made blankets.
2The project has grown over the years.
3Recently, Welcome Blanket showed at least 86 blankets at the Heritage Mill Museum in Winooski, Vermont.
4The blankets were made by people who sewed, crocheted and knitted them.
5The person who made the blanket then attaches a handwritten note.
6The blankets were then given to refugees.
7The national group describes its efforts as an artistic action that supports refugees settling in the United States.
8Jayna Zweiman is an activist based in Los Angeles.
9She started Welcome Blanket in 2017 in opposition to former President Donald Trump's support for a wall at the U.S. border with Mexico.
10She is a grandchild of refugees and grew up hearing stories about her grandfather seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
11She said it made him feel welcome.
12She wanted people coming to this country now to have the same feeling that her grandfather had as well as so many other immigrants.
13She wanted a way to help them.
14Since that time thousands of blankets and notes have been made for shows across the country.
15After the blankets are displayed, they are given away in welcome boxes to refugees and immigrants at the event or through local charity groups.
16The project started to help refugees who were forced to leave their countries because of war, persecution or a natural disaster.
17The blankets have also gone to immigrants.
18Aisha Bitini came to the U.S. from Congo in Africa.
19She is now living in the state of Vermont.
20She said that she loves the blanket she chose, a soft crocheted one with gold, dark red, white and gray colors.
21She picked it out at a blanket giveaway at the Association of Africans Living in Vermont.
22"I'm so blessed to have one of them," she said.
23"This beautiful blanket" and the note that came with it made her "feel so special."
24Kalyan Adhikari is from Nepal.
25He said the Vermont project makes refugees feel welcomed and more at home.
26He said that the project is "such a kind and warm initiative.
27This makes my heart warm. I can't thank them enough," he said about the blanket makers.
28Hollie Shaner-McRae is from Burlington, Vermont.
29She made one of the blankets being shown in March at the Heritage Hill Museum.
30The blanket is purple with white and gray stripes.
31On a note she placed on her blanket, she wrote about her great-grandparents coming to America from Ukraine, Russia, and Poland.
32Her note said, "Welcome to the USA."
33One of her great-grandfathers made clothing by hand, and the other made large wooden containers.
34"Both were so brave and came to America as teenagers," she wrote in the note.
35"I hope you make friends and feel safe here. Vermont is blessed to have new families arrive and enrich our world," she continued in her note.
36Sonia Savoulian lives in Los Angeles in the state of California.
37She is an immigrant herself and makes things with yarn. She started making blankets in 2018.
38Since then, she has made about 50 blankets.
39Savoulian said that the Welcome Blanket project is both a creative activity for the people who make them; and it is a product that helps people new to the US, "feel an embrace, a welcome and an aspiration," she said.
40Jayna Zweiman hopes that blanket-making will become a tradition in the US.
41"I want this happening 50 years from now," she said.
42"And I want a kid who took part in this...to remember that he had actually physically made something for someone who was coming."
43I'm Faith Pirlo.
1An effort called the Welcome Blanket project aims to help refugees by giving them hand-made blankets. The project has grown over the years. Recently, Welcome Blanket showed at least 86 blankets at the Heritage Mill Museum in Winooski, Vermont. 2The blankets were made by people who sewed, crocheted and knitted them. The person who made the blanket then attaches a handwritten note. The blankets were then given to refugees. 3The national group describes its efforts as an artistic action that supports refugees settling in the United States. 4Jayna Zweiman is an activist based in Los Angeles. She started Welcome Blanket in 2017 in opposition to former President Donald Trump's support for a wall at the U.S. border with Mexico. 5She is a grandchild of refugees and grew up hearing stories about her grandfather seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. She said it made him feel welcome. 6She wanted people coming to this country now to have the same feeling that her grandfather had as well as so many other immigrants. She wanted a way to help them. 7Since that time thousands of blankets and notes have been made for shows across the country. After the blankets are displayed, they are given away in welcome boxes to refugees and immigrants at the event or through local charity groups. 8The project started to help refugees who were forced to leave their countries because of war, persecution or a natural disaster. The blankets have also gone to immigrants. 9Aisha Bitini came to the U.S. from Congo in Africa. She is now living in the state of Vermont. She said that she loves the blanket she chose, a soft crocheted one with gold, dark red, white and gray colors. She picked it out at a blanket giveaway at the Association of Africans Living in Vermont. 10"I'm so blessed to have one of them," she said. "This beautiful blanket" and the note that came with it made her "feel so special." 11Kalyan Adhikari is from Nepal. He said the Vermont project makes refugees feel welcomed and more at home. 12He said that the project is "such a kind and warm initiative. This makes my heart warm. I can't thank them enough," he said about the blanket makers. 13Hollie Shaner-McRae is from Burlington, Vermont. She made one of the blankets being shown in March at the Heritage Hill Museum. The blanket is purple with white and gray stripes. On a note she placed on her blanket, she wrote about her great-grandparents coming to America from Ukraine, Russia, and Poland. 14Her note said, "Welcome to the USA." One of her great-grandfathers made clothing by hand, and the other made large wooden containers. "Both were so brave and came to America as teenagers," she wrote in the note. 15"I hope you make friends and feel safe here. Vermont is blessed to have new families arrive and enrich our world," she continued in her note. 16Sonia Savoulian lives in Los Angeles in the state of California. She is an immigrant herself and makes things with yarn. She started making blankets in 2018. Since then, she has made about 50 blankets. 17Savoulian said that the Welcome Blanket project is both a creative activity for the people who make them; and it is a product that helps people new to the US, "feel an embrace, a welcome and an aspiration," she said. 18Jayna Zweiman hopes that blanket-making will become a tradition in the US. 19"I want this happening 50 years from now," she said. "And I want a kid who took part in this...to remember that he had actually physically made something for someone who was coming." 20I'm Faith Pirlo. 21Lisa Rathke wrote this story for The Associated Press. Faith Pirlo adapted this story for Learning English. 22___________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24blanket - n. a covering that is used to keep you warm 25sew - v. to use a needle and thread to make or repair clothes or cloth object 26crochet - n. a method of making cloth or clothing by using a needle with a hook at the end to form and weave loops in a thread 27knit - v. to make (a piece of clothing) from yarn or thread by using long needles or a special machine 28charity - n. an organization that helps people who are poor, sick, or otherwise in need 29persecution - n. the treatment of someone unfairly or cruelly because of their race, religion, or beliefs 30blessed - adj. having a sacred nature; connected with God; very welcome, pleasant, or appreciated 31initiative - n. a plan or project, usually involving many people or groups, to accomplish or achieve some result 32yarn - n. thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing 33embrace - v. to hold in the arms 34aspiration - n. a hope or goal for the future 35__________________________________________________________________ 36What do you think about this story? 37We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 38Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.