Published: November 07, 2009 11:36 pm      

Charities acquire Biederlack blankets

Churches distribute leftover stock to the needy in community

CUMBERLAND — People in need may receive a warm gift this winter as charities prepare to distribute more than 200,000 blankets.

The blankets are leftover stock from the liquidation of Cumberland blanket manufacturer Biederlack. Other items from the liquidation, including manufacturing equipment and blankets, were auctioned Oct. 27.

According to Eric Weaver, project manager with Biederlack, the manufacturer has closed down its Cumberland operation because of economic troubles and is now faced with finding wholesale buyers for its leftover stock.

Biederlack had been struggling since 2006. Deals with Wal-Mart and Sam’s Wholesale that fell through in 2008 were the death blow for the manufacturer.

Weaver, a chaplain with the United Methodist Church, was hired to work with charities in order to find buyers who will put the blankets to work for a good cause. Weaver said that organizations like the United Way, Salvation Army and Red Cross are being approached about purchasing blankets.

Ministries like Baltimore's African Methodist Episcopal Church, which picked up more than a hundred blankets last week, may also purchase blankets.

The Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Short Gap, W.Va., is using the 60 blankets it purchased for fundraising, Pastor Martha Ognibene said. “We’re thinking that people will buy them, then donate them to our food pantry,” said Ognibene.

Ognibene said the church appreciated Biederlack’s charitable efforts. “It’s a wonderful idea and we’re sorry they’re gone.”

Other ministries that Weaver has been working with to find purchasers for the blankets include North Carolina's Blankets of America, Samaritan's Purse and Restoring the Hoop, a ministry that provides blankets and other materials for American Indians in North and South Dakota.

"We're looking for organizations who could use our blankets for philanthropy, to go along for missions for their organization or just for fundraising opportunities," said Weaver.

Interested buyers may contact Weaver at (301) 759-3633, ext. 3123 or by e-mail at eric.weaver@biederlack.com.

Contact Cory Galliher at cgalliher@times-news.com.