You deserve good things

You deserveYou deser ve You deser ve Good things! Good things!

You’ve got ever ything that makes happiness happen!

Every success starts with someone who has oceans of hope and determination, the courage to take a chance on themselves and the belief that they can and will make their dreams come true. And that’s someone who sounds just like you!

Ever yda y Hero

Proof that it only takes one person to make a difference Proof that it only takes one person to make a difference

“My blankets are a special “My blankets are a special thank-you to our K-9 heroes!” thank-you to our K-9 heroes ! ”

For years, Midge DeVenero-Reichardt enjoyed making blankets for local charities. But when she learned there were K-9 police dogs in her area that put their lives on the line ever y day, a new calling took flight in her hear t !

Sitting down at her sewing machine one day in 2018, Midge DeVenero-Reichardt felt a rush of excitement.

Since learning to sew in 2009, Midge had been making f leece blankets to donate to various charities—the homeless, kids with cancer, animal shelters. But recently, a couple had come by to check out a feral kitten she was fostering, and they got to chatting about her blanket project.

When Midge mentioned she was always looking for new recipients, they told her that local police departments had K-9 units that may need them.

A rush of adrenaline engulfed the Point Pleasant, New Jersey, widow, imagining

these special dogs snuggled in one of her f leece blankets. Midge contacted the Point Pleasant Beach and Point Pleasant Borough police departments. Each had two dogs in service. Excited, Midge picked up some brightly colored fabric with paw prints and made blankets for all four dogs. The handlers were so touched and grateful that Midge began contacting other area police departments that had K-9 units. “In appreciation of the service K-9 teams provide,” she explained, “I would like to make f leece blankets for your dogs.” Sergeant Peter Glass with the Ocean County Sheriff ’s Department gave a list of seven dogs that would be blessed, he said, to have one of Midge’s blankets to cuddle up in after a long day out in the f ield. He even offered He even offered to pick up the to pick up the blankets—and blankets—and brought along two brought along two off icers with their off icers with their K-9 partners. K-9 partners. Seeing the dogs K-9 Offi cer Devante wears his blanket proudly… Offi cer Caster likes to nap on his wrapped in her blankets f illed Midge with joy. wrapped in her blankets f illed Midge with joy.

“I want them to know they are appreciated,” says Midge (right), with a grateful K-9 team

From there, Midge began reaching out to police departments all across the state. Her heart soared as off icers sent her thank-you emails and photos showing their dogs cozied up in her warm f leecy blankets.

One off icer shared how his daughters had a ritual of covering his dog in his K-9 blanket before going to bed each night.

To date, Midge, 70, has made and donated 500 blankets, using her own money for supplies, and plans to continue to give police K-9s something to wag their tails about.

“I pour love and prayers into each blanket,” Midge says. “I hope when the K-9 handler sees his partner wrapped in one of my blankets, he will be reminded that his K-9 team is appreciated for the service they both provide and that there are prayers for blessings and protection being said for them.” —Diane Nichols

Has a person or animal come to your rescue? Share your own story with us, and we’ll pay you $200 if we publish it! Know of a hero? Send it to us! If you’re the first to share it and we publish it, we’ll pay you $50! Email your story with your name and phone number to: WWFeatures@WomansWorldMag.com. Or mail to: Everyday Hero, Woman’s World, 270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632. We pay $200!