Relief & Homeless Blankets: Needlepunch Style

For organizations and charities on a budget, needlepunch wool blankets are an economical choice to help as many
street living people as possible.
Author: Paulette Butler

These relief blankets are manufactured from pre consumer recycled fiber.

Northwest Woolen Mills blends the wool and polyester fibers, and runs the fiber through a needle loom.  A needle loom has thousands of sharp needles to intertwine the fibers, making a felt-type blanket.  Needlepunch blankets are often called non-woven blankets.

The result is a warm and fluffy blanket, made from wool, that is inexpensive. 

We don't recommend washing these blankets in a machine.  The agitation from the washing machine will stretch and distort the blanket, resulting in holes and thin spots.

Since most people living on the street to not wash their blankets, this is not an issue.  The blankets enable them to stay warm and comfortable by either using the needlepunch blanket as a ground cover or a blanket.

Northwest Woolen Mills website

 

Wool and synthetic being manufactured for a needlepunch wool relief blanket.

 

 

 

 

Selecting wool blankets for Homeless Shelters

Many homeless shelters are grateful to receive wool blankets for their clients.

Customers often call Northwest Woolen Mills and ask me what wool blankets are recommended for homeless shelters. 

If you aren't familiar with the homeless shelter, giving them a call is a great start. Ask if they support people living on the street or if they house clients overnight.

In either case, the best relief blanket should have a minimum of 30% wool.  Wool is a natural fiber, holding in body heat during cold weather, yet allowing perspiration to evaporate in both cold and warm temperatures.  Wool blankets also maintain their thermal properties even when wet.

Non-woven wool blankets being distributed at a shelter in Florida

For people living on the street, an inexpensive "non-woven" blanket is an economical choice.  Non-woven means the wool and other fibers are intertwined to make a felt type humanitarian blanket.  These wool blankets are warm and fluffy, keeping the user comfortable.  They are generally not very "pretty", which is a good choice for street living because they will not get stolen from the user.

For homeless shelters that house clients overnight, a "loom-woven" wool blanket is preferred.  This is because the shelter will be washing the wool blankets regularly.  Loom woven wool blankets are durable and long-lasting.

I hope this information is useful in making a decision about which wool blankets to purchase.  Thank you for helping others in need.

Paulette
Northwest Woolen Mills