IF YOU LIVE in a cold weather state like me, where winters can be brutal and staying warm presents a challenge, I’d like to help.
Or more accurately, one of my readers, Virginia, would like to help.

The prize: a toasty warm white down comforter, left, with a green duvet cover, right. Photo courtesy of Virginia.
Virginia lives in Arizona. She has a king-sized down comforter that she can’t use because, well, Arizona is too warm. She wanted to gift the white comforter and accompanying green duvet cover to me after reading my recent post, “How I deal with some of winter’s challenges here in Minnesota.” I had complained about staying warm at night. Her king-size comforter, though, would be way too large for my full-sized bed.

That’s Virginia, our generous donor, on the left with children from Mexico, where she volunteers with Liga International, The Flying Doctors of Mercy. Virginia photographs the work Liga (means “League” in Spanish), a non-profit, does in Mexico providing free health care and education to the people there. For more information, go to ligainternational.org.
Then I had this thought. Maybe Virginia would be willing to give the warm bedding to someone else. I pitched the idea. She agreed.
Thus The Great Down Comforter Give-Away.
If you would like to win a gently-used (like half a dozen times) down comforter and duvet cover that Virginia will ship to you at no cost, then read on. Note that the bedding was used in a smoke-free home. Virginia has a cat, but the cat has not been on the comforter and she will have the bedding cleaned.
Here are the contest rules:
1) Will ship only within the United States, and preferably to a cold weather location.
2) Enter by submitting a comment on this post. You must state, in a maximum of five sentences or less, why you want to win this comforter. Hint: Judges (Virginia and I) are looking for creative answers that prove a true need for this bedding.
3) Entry deadline is noon Central Standard Time on Monday, January 19, 2015. The winner will be announced in a post published here on Thursday, January 22, 2015. The winner must reply with name and mailing address by Sunday, January 25, 2015, via the comments box to secure the prize. This information will not be published.
4) Members of my or Virginia’s immediate or extended families are not eligible to enter.
There you go. Enter The Great Down Comforter Give-Away. Now.
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Thanks to Virginia for her kind and generous spirit.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Like my grandkids would say, “Oh, for fun!”
Sounds like your grandkids share their grandpa’s sense of humor.
That is a grand idea!!! Thanks to Virginia!!!!!!
I agree. She has a generous heart.
That is super sweet and if she doesn’t have any takers for that there is always the idea of donating it to charity.
Exactly, Missy. A commenter could request that.
Fun and timely since it is minus 9 here right now. I am sure one of your readers will come up with the perfect place to donate it. I am certain that a need will make itself known and the perfect home will be found for it. Thanks to you and Virginia for this generous offer!
We have you beat. Here in southern Minnesota, the temp this morning was minus 17 degrees.
And, yes, I expect a need will be made known here.
Great idea Audrey and I do hope someone in COLD Minnesota wins the comforter.
And it is COLD here in Minnesota this morning. Minus 17 degrees around 7 a.m.
I would be honored to “win” the down comforter, but not for my own enjoyment, but for a couple who lives here in cold Grand Forks, ND. They have six children and live in a house 115 years old (it is quite cold and drafty!). This couple lives on a very tight budget and most definitely needs, would use, and appreciate the down comforter. -Rena
This sounds like the perfect place for this comforter. Thanks for thinking generously.
Oh goody!! An exciting giveaway! Even though I am from a southern state and I won’t be participating, I’m still excited that some lucky person will soon be reveling in the warmth of a cozy comforter! What a great idea to have a giveaway, and how loving of Virginia to share some warmth.
I thought the same of Virginia. And thanks for commenting from your Southern home.
If I could win this downy gift,
It surely would make me feel less adrift,
In icy wind and blowing snow,
It would I am sure uncurl my toe,
And I would fall on unfrozen knees,
Giving thanks to God, for miracles such as these…Merri McElderry
Thanks for your truly creative and poetic entry, which shows a strong sense of humor and gratitude.
Reblogged this on Treadlemusic and commented:
Dear Friends, here’s an opportunity to read about a generous give-away/share!!!!!! For you or for someone you know……………………
Ah, Doreen, my friend, thank you for this reblog.
You are most welcome!!!!! Hugs………………..
This is exciting. What wonderful suggestions. I’m sure that a deserving winner will be chosen. Reblogging is a great idea. Guess I need to get into your group of bloggers. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Thanks to your generosity, Virginia, someone will be blessed with a down comforter. I’ve discovered lots of wonderful folks out there in blog land. Some have become “real-life” friends as in Doreen over at Treadlemusic.
Just signed up so maybe I’m ready to join the group of bloggers
Always love having new people signed on to Minnesota Prairie Roots. And always appreciate comments.
What a great idea and how lucky one winner will be. Rick and I have a king size bed with a fairly new comforter. We are typically too hot at night and kick the comforter off, so…. I vote it goes to someone who freezes at night and could really use it. Cant wait to see who the lucky one is 🙂
Why am I not surprised at this “kick off the comforter?” 🙂
If you know of someone who could really use this comforter, feel free to submit a creative entry.
Reblogged this on DaniellaJoe's Blog and commented:
Is this Warm Blanket for YOU???
Thanks for the reblog. I appreciate your getting the word out to others. So sweet.
I love this idea! I would love to have a down comforter again. My husband and I had one for several years, which he had used through highschool, that just recently gave up the ghost. It is now beyond usability and losing feathers at an alarming rate. While we live in Alabama, we live in the part of Alabama that reaches below freezing most every night from December to March. I would love to win this comforter to snuggle up in on the cold nights to come.
I just learned something about Alabama weather.
Thanks for entering, Jessie.
Thank you!
Me, my partner, and our three boys live in Ohio, we are always dragging blankets around the house, especially the younger two kids, who hoard as many blankets, covers, and pillows as they can find. We would probably all end up sharing the comforter, but in return (if I were to win) I will host a give-a-way on my blog, I will create a hand made gift for who ever wins, or if there are only a few entries, I will make a smaller gift for everyone.
Thanks for your entry. I can just picture the five of you dragging blankets around the house like Linus. I assume it’s because your Ohio house is cold.
I also appreciate your generous offer to pass along the kindness should you win.
Yeah, it gets pretty chilly. For the most part I think we handle the cold pretty well compared to some people. The past two winters have been unusually cold.
We’ve just dealt with an extremely cold stretch here in Minnesota, too, this past week. Sunshine and warmer temps, around 30 degrees, yesterday and today. 🙂