Stoughton Family Makes Blankets, Wants Community To Help Homeless

STOUGHTON, MA — When Ellie Fay turned 11, her mother asked what she wanted for her birthday. She didn't ask for new clothes, an iPad or anything the average preteen wants. Instead, she asked for fabric. Ellie wanted fabric so she could make blankets for the people living at the local homeless shelter.

The family started looking up homeless shelters and stumbled upon Stoughton's Evelyn House. In her four years living in town, Ellie's mother Charlene Fay told Patch she had no idea the shelter was there. Fay helped her daughter get to work right away, granting her birthday wish and helping her make the blankets.

“She always had that emotional maturity,” Fay said. “She’s very aware of all those aspects of life you know, focus on what you have rather than what you don’t.”

Even what Ellie did get for her birthday ended up going toward the blankets, Ellie said.

"I'm grateful for a warm bed to sleep in," Ellie said. "I asked, 'Can I use my birthday money to make blankets or something bright and cheery to cheer them up?'"

Fay sent out a post on the Facebook group, "Stoughton Moms" and enlisted some families to donate their time and help Ellie out. They brought the blankets to the house and saw 16 families. Down on their luck.

There was a single mom there with a newborn baby, a dad asking for work clothes, another family was just hoping to get a coffee mug, Fay told Patch. Ellie and her mother wanted to do something, especially when they found out a giving tree wasn't set up at the shelter. According to Fay, a giving tree is a wish list that hangs on a Christmas tree. People take one to purchase what's on the list for a needy family. These types of lists are commonly done by churches, she said. In their case, the giving tree, or shopping list was online.

Since that first visit, Ellie organized getting pajamas, slippers, and coats for the people at the Evelyn House before the worst of winter hits.

Fay is asking that Stoughton residents take the time this holiday season to think about their neighbors going through a rough time. Her and Ellie said they want to raise awareness that people in Stoughton are struggling and rough times can happen a lot easier than people think.

"It can so easily happen that someone gets laid off or the landlord sells the house...,” Fay said. "I would love to encourage the community if they are baking over this Christmas holiday to consider dropping some yummy treats at the shelter or if anyone wants to donate gift cards they would be greatly appreciated. What ever people can afford to give help."

If anyone needs help giving, they can contact Charlene Fay in the "Stoughton Enthusiast" Facebook group. She's hoping to have most of the donations in order by Dec. 20.

Photos courtesy of Charlene Fay