11-year-old sews 500 blankets and over 1,000 masks for kids in need

Lucy Blaylock is on a mission to comfort kids going through difficult times, one blanket at a time.

The 11-year-old learned to sew three years ago when she made a quilt for a friend's birthday. After the party she asked her mom if they could put together a blanket giveaway for children in need. She posted on social media and received 16 messages from parents of kids battling cancer, autism, bullies, and a move to a new city.

"When I told her it was time to pick, she started crying and said she couldn't pick just one," Lucy's mom Veronica Blaylock said. "She wanted to do one for all of them so we got sewing."

Since then Lucy has made 500 blankets for kids in 14 countries and all over the United States, spending two hours with her sewing machine for each. Every comfy spread comes with her signature hand-stitched inside a heart.

"It makes me excited when I think of the kids getting the package in the mail and opening it," Lucy said. "I always hope they'll know someone cares about them. It feels good to know that I'm helping all these kids feel loved."

Once the global coronavirus pandemic hit, Lucy began making masks for health care workers and children in addition to her blankets. She's donated 1,100 masks since March to those asking for a helping hand -- including an order for the Ronald McDonald House, her mom said.

"Kindness does matter, it always will," Lucy said. "It makes the world a better place when we do kind acts. It may get hard sometimes, but what we are doing is making a difference.

Lucy, who lives in Gallatin, Tennessee, received a volunteer service award from President Trump earlier this year as well as the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. She tells kids interested in volunteering not to "wait until you have everything figured out" and to "just start and keep going. Serving always matters."