The story of a young girl who, moved by a chance encounter with a homeless man, started a successful blanket collection drive is literally a warm and fuzzy one for this cold season.

But beneath the soft surface, the story of Annie Ruzanic and her Have a Heart blanket drive is about the year-round values of helping others and giving back to community.

Annie, 9, is a fourth-grader at Imagine Environmental Charter School at Frick Park and this is her second year conducting the blanket drive, which is an idea she came up with while discussing a disturbing event with her mother.

In December 2008, Annie was on a field trip in Frick Park with her classmates and teachers when she heard some fellow students scream.

"We saw this man sleeping in a hollow log," Annie said. "All I could think of was, 'How is he going to do this all winter?' "

Beth Ruzanic said the encounter made a big impact on her daughter and she tried to use it as a teaching moment.

"At first, Annie wanted to find the man again and bring him a blanket, but we talked about how that might not be the best solution," Mrs. Ruzanic said.

In a discussion with environmental science teacher Nicole Shaffer, Annie and her mother came up with the idea of the blanket drive. That spring, they donated the 70 blankets they had collected to an organization benefiting at-risk adolescents and youths.

Annie set her sights much higher for her second drive and was surprised at how much support she got.

At a school assembly last Thursday, she presented 170 blankets, some handmade by parents, to Jessica Block, volunteer coordinator of Operation Safety Net.

Environmental Charter School curriculum coordinator Kristen Priganc said the school teaches the values of giving back to the community and trying to help others.

"It's great to see one of our students take the idea of stewardship to the next level," she said. "We are so proud of Annie."

Annie said she was pleased to know that her blankets were put to use very quickly.

As Ms. Block explained, Operation Safety Net, in cooperation with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, operates a Severe Weather Shelter at Smithfield United Church, 620 Smithfield St., Downtown, any time the night temperature dips below 25 degrees.

"We've basically been open since Christmas," she said, because of the bad weather.

The night of the assembly, the shelter was open and because of Annie's donation, the men who stayed were able to leave the next day with a blanket.

Linda Ross, director of communications at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, which manages Operation Safety Net, said the blankets were a cheerful sight.

"Some were Barbie and Princess and Superheroes, some were homemade, most of them were new," she said.

Ms. Block added that for her homeless clients, having something new and warm means a lot.

"Giving them something new, and having it come from a little girl who really cared, and giving them the best care, that's our mission," she said.

The shelter provides dinner every night, but it is always in need of volunteers and donations of blankets, socks, underwear and toiletries.

Annie hopes Have a Heart will be even bigger next year, and she expressed interest in one day operating a shelter. She added that although she cried on the day she saw a man trying to stay warm by sleeping in a hollow log, she feels good that she is making a difference.

For more information about Operation Safety Netor to make a donation, visit www.pmhs.org.

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