Area residents can share the warmth of the holidays with babies in need by making a donation to the 15th Annual Blankets for Babies Drive. Sponsored by Methodist Children's Hospital of South Texas, the drive provides blankets for babies through several local non-profit organizations. The drive runs through December 1. New and gently used blankets in good, clean condition are needed. Drop boxes are located near the main entrances of Methodist Children's Hospital of South Texas*, 7700 Floyd Curl Drive; Methodist Heart Hospital*, 7700 Floyd Curl Drive; Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital*, 8026 Floyd Curl Drive; Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital, 9150 Huebner; Northeast Methodist Hospital*, 12412 Judson Road; and Metropolitan Methodist Hospital*, 1310 McCullough (administrative office).

The blankets collected will be distributed through Any Baby Can, The Children's Shelter, Healy-Murphy Center, Ronald McDonald Houses, the Battered Women’s Shelter, Healthy Families San Antonio, Hill Country Family Services and the SAMM Shelter. For more information, phone JoAnn King, 575-0171. This is a great story for the day the first cold norther blows into the city. A spokesperson from Methodist Healthcare is available for interviews. We also can display some of the blankets and quilts that have been donated.

If you are interested in doing a story, please phone Shirley Wills at 822-2378 or 365-4488(cell) or JoAnn King, 575-0171 or 325-3294 (cell). For media assistance during the weekend, please phone Methodist Hospital, 575-4000, and ask for the public relations representative on call. * A Methodist Hospital Facility