Oak View Middle School student wraps annual blanket drive with kindness opportunities for student learning

Seventh-grade student at Oak View Middle School (OVMS), Addyson "Addy" Dombrovski, is warming hearts and spirits with help from students and young people in the community through a blanket drive - now in its sixth year. Since 2019, Addy’s blanket drive has assembled, collected and donated over 2,700 fleece tie blankets to patients at Children’s Hospital Minnesota.

When Addy was five years old, she was hospitalized and received a handmade comfort blanket. The simple gift made a profound impact on her and her family, inspiring a mission to return the favor to as many kids as possible.

Addy has led a blanket drive each winter, encouraging young people in schools, clubs and community groups to connect and support her efforts. Addy shared her project with her health teacher, Lindsey Fedder, who said, “It tied in perfectly with our advocacy unit.” 

Approximately 450 students in sixth-grade health classes at OVMS assembled blankets in health class, in addition to seventh-grade students who participated during Pride or their advisory period. The fabric was purchased by Addy’s family using funds donated from family and friends. OVMS students assembled and donated 75 blankets. 

The project has become a community effort led by Addy, involving scout troops, local residents, and students from nearly a dozen metro-area schools, including Andover, Anoka and Blaine high schools. In total, Addy was able to gather over 725 blankets made by young people in the community by the end of 2025, bringing the five-year total to 2,738 blankets donated to patients at Children’s Hospital Minnesota. 

Special thanks to additional student groups who participated in Addy’s 2025 blanket drive, including the Andover High School Leo Club and National Honor Society, Anoka High School National Honor Society, Blaine High School, Osseo High School Latinx group, Shakopee High School softball team and Red Cross group, Spring Lake Park High School, Stillwater High School, Wayzata High School, Westwood Intermediate and Middle School in Spring Lake Park, White Bear Lake High School and two Girl Scout troops from Cottage Grove, Minn.