A partnership between Hancock Fabrics in Kirkland and residents of the Madison House retirement facility is benefiting Evergreen Hospice.

Madison House residents recently made blankets using material donated by the fabric store and will deliver them in person to Evergreen Hospice on May 8 at 1 p.m.

Gary Kelly of Hancock Fabrics donates the material and residents of Madison House cut and tie it to make fleece lap blankets that are a gift to Hospice patients and their families to keep.

It all started in 2006, when Bert Fisher, who lives at Madison House and volunteers at Evergreen Hospice, talked to residents about the idea of making comfortable lap blankets for patients and their families dealing with difficult end of life issues. It was a collaboration of many retirees organizing themselves and working together as a team.