The idea came to Susan Rhein, a Montana native and military veteran herself, when she saw that residents of VA hospitals were stuck inside during the long Montana winters.

The goal of Fur for Vets is to provide lap blankets to every veterans home in America.

To that end, Rhein spent last summer interning with a New York furrier to learn how to work with fur, and master the sewing techniques needed to create the blankets. All the blankets Furs for Vets produces are reworked and recycled from donated furs.

After hearing about Rhein's efforts, Girlawhirl was inspired to help. She ran to the nearest second-hand store and bought every piece of fur she could get her hands on to send to her. Certainly there can be no guilt when old furs are becoming a wonderful gift to someone who served our country.

Now the next time she sees a woman walking the streets in a fur coat, Girlawhirl will rest a little easier with the thought and hope that somewhere down the line, through Fur for Vets, that coat will become a blanket for an American Veteran.

Go Do It!

Fur coats and monetary donations can be sent to:

Fur for Vets

PO Box 3331

Kalispell, MT 59901

www.furforvets.org coming soon… January 2006

PETA also accepts donations of fur coats and other items which they also donate, after marking with red paint, to homeless shelters, refugee camps, and other places.