AFUMC, Daughters of Union Civil War Vets share blankets of comfort

Alpharetta United Methodist Church’s (AFUMC) Blanket Ministry and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUVCW) celebrate their two-year partnership making blankets for the Veterans Hospital’s service men and women in Atlanta, Georgia.

The AFUMC blanket ministry was started in 2003 by Jackie Hollingsworth, a music teacher in Alpharetta. While recovering from a life-threatening disease, she began the ministry to share love and compassion to children and adults experiencing difficult life situations.  Prior to her death, the ministry made over 6,000 blankets. Since then, the ministry has produced more than 12,500 blankets for distribution to those needing comfort and a word of hope.

The Daughters (DUVCW) became involved two years ago with the blanket ministry as a new service project at the VA Hospital. Members of the DUVCW donate monies to the AFUMC blanket ministry and participate in making blankets. A member pins on each blanket an American flag and a card thanking the veteran for his or her service. The Daughters have taken 269 blankets to the hospitalized veterans.

DUVCW members have a direct lineage from a Union soldier or sailor. Each Tent is named for a Union nurse who served during the Civil War. The Amanda Stokes Tent has 45 members and is located in Alpharetta, GA. It is the only DUVCW Tent in Georgia; further information is on the website http://duvcwga.weebly.com.