Downtown Hotel Reaches Out To Community To 'Blanket Baltimore'

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- For the third year in a row, a popular downtown Baltimore Hotel is reaching out to help the needy in our community. WJZ's Ron Matz reports you can join the effort!

"This is the third year that we're doing the Blanket Baltimore drive. The first two years were fantastic and very successful, with over 1,000 blankets collected each year -- and that's our goal this year," said General Manager Kevin Kennedy, Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor.

Winter is on the way -- and so is the cold -- so the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor is collecting blankets to help Baltimore's homeless.

"The collection started right after Thanksgiving and it goes all the way through New Year's Eve. We've partnered again with Target, MCVET, the Franciscan Center and also New Vision House of Hope," Kennedy said.

They will make a difference to the New Vision House of Hope.

"We want to be involved in the community. We want to make sure all the people in the community are taken care of. There are many less fortunate people in our city. We felt it was very important to partner with the groups that we did to try and make a difference," said Kennedy.

The blankets arrive just in time to help those in need during the holidays.

"Last year at our annual Christmas celebration, we distributed 550 blankets that were donated through this wonderful program," said Meg Ducey, interim executive director, Franciscan Center in Baltimore.

Target is on board for the third straight year.

"We do free shipping for blankets. You can go through our website Target.com and there's ten percent off the blankets as well. We also donate blankets to the fundraiser," said Matt Boylan, Target community relations director.

The donations are a blessing to agencies that help Baltimore's homeless veterans.

"This is a tremendous blessing to the folks that we serve -- many of whom are homeless -- or, if they aren't, perhaps they are without stable housing," said Ducey.

You can leave your blankets right at the Hyatt's front entrance.

"People can come by the front of the hotel. You can drop off a brand new blanket to the doorman," Kennedy said.

The Hyatt Regency's "Blanket Baltimore" campaign continues through New Year's Eve.