For a good cause -- Susan Roush

-- Story by Mary A. Castillo, photo by XXXX

Susan Roush was admittedly picky when she first looked for ways to

volunteer in the community. Her busy work schedule was too complicated

for orientations and training sessions. But her goal was simple.

“I wanted to find a way to help kids,” Roush said. “I knew there were

people out there like me who wanted to contribute but didn’t have the

time.”

Roush’s mother, Josephine, gave her an idea by suggesting that she

make blankets for unwed mothers. Roush, who owned an art gallery at the

time, asked local picture framers for their fabric remnants and posted a

volunteer sign-up sheet in front of her business. The next month, Roush’s

cause was promoted on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and within two days of the

show, she had more than 800 calls from people who wanted to help.

“I had hoped I could take it nationwide in three years not one month,”

she said. “I just wanted five people to come and sew at my house.”

Six years later, the Binky Patrol is composed of 160 chapters

throughout the nation and nearly 3,000 volunteers who gather together to

hand sew “binkies” for children and teens in the foster care system or

who suffer from illness. The groups use donated or used fabric and raise

funds for batting, blending thread, yarn and brochures. The Binky

Patrol’s appeal, Roush said, is that anyone can help.

In fact this year, the organization was adopted by all of the Girl

Scout troops across the county. So far, the 19,000 girl scouts have made

about 650 binkies.

“A binky is like a hug for kids who need attention and want to feel

loved and safe,” Roush explained.

Where Roush got the word “binky” is a story unto itself.

“I knew a homeless man named Shandor who wore a wrapping around his

head,” she recalled. When she asked him what it was, he told her it was a

binky or a blanket.

Shandor took great pride in having the Binky Patrol named after him.

In fact he once approached her with a donation.

“He told me that he made some extra cash and handed me his only dollar

that he wanted to be given to the babies,” she said.

Shandor would probably be quite proud to know that as of January 2002,

the Binky Patrol has made and distributed 150,000 binkies. Locally Roush

can easily deliver 60 binkies in one week made by local chapters such as

the High Tide Perlers to Kathy’s House, Precious Life Shelters and the

Laguna Beach Community Clinic.

Binky sewers also make larger binkies for pregnant teens.This month

the Binky Patrol will celebrate its sixth anniversary with volunteers,

clients of Project Dignity and local foster children and their parents.

The children will have the opportunity to draw on a square that will be

sewn into a binky, giving them a chance to help another child in need.

“Our philosophy is that if it’s from your heart, it’s perfect,” she

said.

The Binky Jamboree will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 22

at Turtle Rock Park in Irvine. For more information to join the Binky

Patrol (949) 499-BINK. Web: www.binkypatrol.org.