Knit Hope With Us
Honor organ donor heroes with knitted and crocheted blankets
Stitch with love. Honor a legacy.
Organ donors are heroes. Central Florida’s Organ Procurement Organization, OurLegacy, is looking for caring community members to join us in knitting hope blankets to honor heroes and support local families during a time of loss. These keepsake three-foot by three-foot works of art honor Central Florida Organ Donor Heroes for giving the most precious gift, the Gift of Life through organ and tissue donation. Blankets are then ceremonially presented to families as a precious gift in honor of their Hero. Knitted and crocheted blankets are accepted in any color. Your blanket art will be tagged with love, so a family knows their caring community joined them in honoring their Hero.
Drop Off Locations
OurLegacy - Family Care
900 Winderley Place , Suite 200 Maitland, Florida 34751
Humble Hands | First Baptist Orlando
3000 South John Young Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32805
Mailing Address
OurLegacy - Family Care
900 Winderley Place , Suite 2200 Maitland, Florida 34751
Yarn Donations
Donations of yarn are warmly welcomed. Your generous donation will help supply knitting volunteers across Central Florida with more yarn to create blankets. Lion Brand Homespun Yarn is preferred, but all donations will be accepted. Haven’t learned the craft of knitting or crochet? Some community members have chosen to hold a yarn drive to collect supplies for our knit and crochet groups.
100+ Crochet Blankets Stitched with Love
At 92 years old, Yaya Coffelt has handcrafted more than 100 blankets for organ donor heroes, offering comfort and dignity to patients in their final moments. Each blanket is stitched with care to honor the generosity of those who give the Gift of Life.
In recognition of her dedication, OurLegacy presented Yaya with the first-ever Heart String Award.
Born in Greece, Yaya immigrated to the United States in 1956 and built a life defined by resilience, service, and compassion. Her connection to donation runs deep. Her late daughter, Liz Heid, worked with OurLegacy for more than 35 years, helping families navigate the donation process and facilitating lifesaving donations for transplant patients in need.
Through her knitting, Yaya continues her daughter’s legacy. She transforms loss into purpose and honors both donor heroes and the families who make the courageous decision to say “yes” to donation.
Each of Yaya’s blankets is one of a kind, marked by her signature hearts and stars woven into the designs. Families keep them as treasured keepsakes and symbols of love, comfort, and remembrance during an incredibly difficult time.
With more than 100 blankets completed and counting, Yaya says she has no plans to stop. For her, every stitch is an act of gratitude, and every blanket is a way to honor the courage it takes to think of others and create a legacy of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
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OurLegacy is the federally designated organ procurement organization for 10-counties across east-Central Florida.
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We have found three-feet by three-feet knitted or crocheted blankets to be the perfect size keepsake for families experiencing donation. There are no requirements on color or type of yarn utilized. Variety of color and style are welcomed and celebrated. As our care team learns about a Hero and their family, a variety of blanket options allows them to select the perfect blanket to honor a particular Donor Hero. After donation, the blankets are gifted to the family as a treasured keepsake.
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Please call or email OurLegacy to see about potential pickup services. Phone: (407) 543-4108
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OurLegacy may have a limited stock of yarn available to volunteers. Reach out to inquire. Yarn donations are always warmly welcomed. Lion Brand Homespun Yarn is preferred, but all donations will be accepted.
