Blankets being collected to support Morgan’s Army
As Morgan Yoney fights for her life in a Pittsburgh intensive care unit, 28 Dollar General stores across the region are collecting blankets in her honor.
The 22-year-old Spraggs woman is awaiting a double-lung transplant, and went into the intensive care unit at UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh Dec. 3 because her kidneys were functioning below 30 percent. She started dialysis to boost her kidneys, because if they don’t begin functioning better, Yoney could be taken off the lung transplant list.
The seriousness of her illness hasn’t stopped Yoney from thinking of others. Every Christmas, Yoney does a blanket drive to distribute blankets to every patient at UPMC-Presby hospital during the holidays.
Janice Shultz, the district manager for Dollar General, said that when she heard Yoney’s story, she wanted to help.
“We decided, as a region, that we’re going to do a blanket drive for Morgan’s Army,” she said.
So far, customers of the 28 stores across southwestern Pennsylvania have donated more than 400 blankets to Morgan’s cause.
“Associates ask every customer if they want to donate a blanket to Morgan’s Army,” Shultz said. “And our blankets are buy one, get one 50 percent off.”
She said a drivers club called “Wicked Jeeps WPA” has volunteered to pick up all the donated blankets Saturday and take them to a drop-off location in Pittsburgh.
“The story reached the corporate office and they were so overwhelmed by what we were doing,” Shultz said. “I think the story is just so heart- touching, especially this time of year, that people just want to help Morgan reach her goal and serve others. Our customer base is just very giving.”
Yoney’s mother, Tammy, updated her daughter’s condition Saturday on the Morgan’s Army Facebook page, writing that Yoney was improving and thanking the community for its support.
“The support we get for on all of you is a gift,” she wrote. “Our family, friends and this staff that is taking care of our girl is a gift. Do we need wrapped presents? I know I have more than enough to be thankful on Christmas Day.”