SVMC Emergency Department Receives Donation of Blankets for Children

12:28PM / Wednesday, May 18, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Left to right: SVMC Emergency Nurses Jim Follett, Kat Cloud, and Olivia Marko accept the donation on behalf of the children who use the Emergency Department

BENNINGTON, Vt. — Just as the rain began to fall on Thursday, April 14, Danielle Ploof, a middle school science teacher at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Mass., stopped by Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) to spread some sunshine in the form of 50 handmade blankets for children using the Emergency Department.

"These blankets are so soft and adorable, with child-friendly prints. We know they will be a great comfort to children and families using Emergency Services," said Jill Maynard, MSN, RN, director of nursing for the department. "We are so grateful to these organizations who give so freely for the benefit of others."

The blankets were made through a cooperation among Brady's Smile, a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; Deborah Ploof of Blue Spruce Grange in Essex Junction, VT; and middle school students at Pine Cobble School in Williamstown, Mass.

Deborah and Danielle Ploof matched up two complimentary pieces of fleece and then cut the fleece to the blanket size from material received from Brady's Smile. Deborah then traveled to Bennington from Bridport and demonstrated to the students how the blankets would be finished by cutting slits in edge and double tying the two fleece pieces together. The final step was rolling up the blanket and applying a ribbon. Pine Cobble middle school students then took over doing the project a couple times a week for a few months as an elective class.

For more information about Brady's Smile, visit www.bradyssmile.org.

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VTF&W: Hunters Urged to Wear Orange

11:45AM / Sunday, October 18, 2026

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont Fish and Wildlife is reminding hunters to wear fluorescent hunter orange.

"Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, thanks to advances in education as well as science," said Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jason Batchelder. "Our volunteer hunter education instructors stress that wearing orange during hunting season is important, and studies prove that wearing fluorescent hunter orange keeps hunters visible to other people in the woods."

"We should strive to be the safest we can by wearing at least a hunter orange hat and vest," added Vermont Hunter Education Program Coordinator Nicole Meier. "Deer are most active during dawn and dusk hours when visibility is low. You can improve your chances of being seen by other hunters by wearing hunter orange, which can be seen even in low-light situations."

"While it isn't recommended to wear orange during waterfowl and turkey seasons, we certainly still recommend hunter orange when you are going to and from your blind, treestand or calling spot," added Meier.

While some hunters might be concerned that deer are scared by hunter orange, in fact deer have been shown to be unaffected by the color. A deer's vision is based on movement, patterns and color variations. Unlike humans, deer do not have multiple color receptors in their eyes. They can see color, but their spectrum is limited. This means deer must rely heavily on their ability to detect movement over the ability to interpret color variations and patterns.

Hunting in Vermont continues to be a safe recreational pursuit and hunters can help keep it that way by choosing to wear hunter orange. This video shows how much more visible hunters are when wearing orange: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kjSI79ss9I

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