Covering Gainesville

Earlier this fall, With a Purpose, makers of the Florida Gators® Blanket for a Blanket line, donated 450 solid color blankets to St. Francis House. These donations are all being made possible by purchases of the licensed blankets made at the University of Florida Bookstore and elsewhere.

District Director Bob Blake who runs the UF Bookstore and Nick Bundra of With a Purpose visited St. Francis House on the last Friday in October to meet with Kathie DuPree. She provided a tour of part of the facility and described how the blankets will be used to benefit their various clients. As an added gesture, Blake also gave DuPree three of the licensed Florida Gators Blanket for a Blankets for her to give as surprises to a few of St. Francis House’s clients.

Opened in 1980, St. Francis House's main shelter is home to 35-40 residents. The organization also runs Arbor House, a haven for single women and women with children; an apartment complex with more than 30 units for single men and women; and a duplex and several homes for families in need.

With a Purpose uses the 1-for-1 model for its Blanket for a Blanket line. For each licensed blanket purchased, a non-branded, solid color blanket is donated to a local nonprofit. With a Purpose works with nonprofit partners who focus on one or more of three main initiatives: housing agencies, veterans in need and disaster relief. The Florida State^® Seminoles^® Blanket for a Blanket line also has made a large blanket donation possible to City Rescue Mission in Jacksonville.

With a Purpose launched its first collegiate Blanket for a Blanket lines in 2013 and has donated more than 17,000 blankets nationally. They currently offer 37 collegiate lines and four specialty lines.

For more information, please contact Nick Bundra at nick@withapurpose.us or 310-266-0340; Bob Blake at rcblake@follett.com or 352-392-0194,  Ext: 105; or Kathie DuPree at sfhaccount@stfrancis.cfcoxmail.com or 352-378-9079.