AMBOY — It started with Delores Mason of Amboy feeling thankful and wanting to pay it forward. 

Her husband, George Mason, was a participant in a recent Honor Flight of Lee County that provided a day full of activities in Washington D.C., at no cost to George. Delores wanted to give something to local veterans as a thank you for the generosity given to George.

Delores is an avid knitter and crocheter and decided to share her idea to make handmade lapghan’s for veterans in local nursing homes in Lee County. 

She consulted with others in her church family and the project was off and running in no time. They could be knitted, crocheted, quilted or fleece sewn. Size should be for a lap, approximately 36 x 48 inches. The blankets started coming in.

Many of the generous helping hands came from the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Lee Center, Franklin Grove Presbyterian Church and others who just heard of the project and wanted to donate a lapghan for our veterans. 

The lapghans were blessed at a church service in Lee Center on Oct. 28 and are on their way to the hands of our brave and selfless veterans. Deliveries of 18 lapghans were made on Thursday, Nov. 1, just in time for distribution to our veterans by Veterans Day. 

They went to Heritage Square/Dixon, Franklin Grove Nursing and Rehabilitation and Maple Crossing/Amboy.

Delores Mason is very happy seeing that her idea came to life and to play an active role in giving back.