Members of the American Cancer Society’s HopeClub received a donation of nearly 50 blankets from the new Albany-based company Twill.
Twill, a startup company in Albany that began about a year and a half ago, held a blanket drop-off and luncheon at the Cancer Society’s HopeClub, at One Penny Lane in Latham Thursday, April 9. The donation came after the company sold dozens of blankets at the Society’s Strides Against Breast Cancer walk last fall. As of last week, Twill has donated about 600 blankets since its start in late 2013.
The company sells organic cotton blankets, an idea that began when founders Zac and Jeremy Halloran saw that at the hospital where their brother, who was diagnosed with a mental health disorder, was staying had only thin and “flimsy” blankets.
“Blankets are widely known as a security object,” said Jacqualine Lombardo, co-founder of Twill. She said that the Hallorans wanted to ensure that people who were facing difficult times, whether through an illness, homelessness or hardship, had something to comfort them.
In late 2014, an online Kickstarter campaign garnered a little over $10,000 in funds to go toward manufacturing the blankets through community donations and support.
The company donates a blanket to a nonprofit organization for every one it sells. So far, blankets have gone to organizations like the American Red Cross and Ronald McDonald House. The donation to the HopeClub came from blankets sold at the breast cancer walk.
“That’s what Twill does. That’s our organization, and that’s what we’re proud of,” said Jeremy Halloran. “(The blankets) were purchased by random people who are interested in Twill and interested in the Cancer Society.”
Twill partners with nonprofits, called Blanket Buddies, and designates a month to helping individual organizations. This month was concentrated on the Cancer Society, although people can choose what organization gets the donated blanket when one is purchased. Lombardo said that Twill usually sets up a drop-off event after at least 30 blankets have been sold.
The blankets donated to the members of the HopeClub, which provides community support for those who have been affected by cancer, were smaller blankets, either for children or a lap blanket. The center hosts a range of programs for both adults and children.
“We have a number of seniors who are in need of a blanket,” said Cancer Society Community Executive Jeff Winters. “So with the Twill blankets being organic and safe, we thought this was a great way to come in and cook some lunch for some of the members here and give away the blankets.”
Lombardo said that Twill expects to partner with the Cancer Society on other future endeavors like the Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.
For more information about Twill, go to www.mytwill.com. For information on the American Cancer Society and the HopeClub, go to www.cancer.org.
