Washington Co. 4-H’ers make, donate 150 blankets to children’s hospital

150 handmade blankets are being donated to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, thanks to the many Washington County 4-Hers who once again participated in the Jake Eickstedt Memorial Blanket Project.

Jake Eickstedt was an lifelong active member in the Kirchhayn Trotters 4-H Club. His favorite projects were Sheep, Shooting Sports and Woodworking. In high school, Jake was diagnosed with lymphoma and treated at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. During his stay, he suggested that his 4-H club make blankets for the kids at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin because they were often cold.

In 2008, the Kirchhayn Trotters 4-H Club started making blankets for the kids. Jake helped make the blankets until he died in a tragic work accident in 2011. In Jake’s honor, the club continues to make blankets for the kids at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. As the number of blankets grew, the club asked for help from the Washington County 4-H Shooting Sports program, since Jake was very involved in the shooting sports project.

Since 2008, Kirchhayn Trotters 4-H Club and the Washington County 4-H Shooting Sports project have made and donated more than 1,000 blankets to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

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