Barbara Kloskowski mades blankets in memory of her daughter, teacher Beth Mann, for teachers and their students, donating them to Free 2 Teach and impact classrooms across our community.
“Making these makes me feel more connected to my daughter, Beth,” shares Barbara Kloskowski. “This is her place. Free 2 Teach is her place, and it is special to donate these in her honor.”
Mrs. Mann, a dedicated teacher, mother, daughter, and community member, passed away in 2021. It has been so special to get to know her extortionary family. Their support of our mission equips teachers to build classrooms just like Beth did: full of love, joy and lots of cozy reading corners.
Beth’s family – cousins, sisters, parents – have volunteered and supported the work of Free 2 Teach in honor of her memory, making a difference on children across five public school districts. Beth, who taught for 29 years with Huntsville City Schools, was a remarkable teacher and friend to many.
“When the family reached out to volunteer with us, it was such a joy to get to know them and spread Beth’s legacy of building joyful classrooms for children in our public schools,” shares Free 2 Teach CEO, Alison Kling. “When Susan, Beth’s sister reached out about a project for her mother, Barbara, this one was such a fit.”
Barbara embarked on a labor of love, making fleece tie blankets in memory of her daughter. Teachers love these blankets for their classrooms and reading corners. They are much-loved and add color and joy to classrooms, making a difference for kids. The pattern is a simple one, and Barbara explains that once you have the fabric cut, you can tie the ends together, creating cozy, colorful blankets. To get involved and make your own fleece tie blankets, you can follow these instructions and then reach out to us for a time to drop them off at our free store. These simple, no-sew blankets are a great accessible project to make an impact at any age and stage. Thank you Barabara, Susan and the entire family for giving back so creatively in memory of Mrs. Mann.
