'She had this urge to help': Mother of 10, friends continue Hamilton blanket drive in her memory

Marilyn Wright says “a lot of people knew Lucy” Robinson, the mother of 10 who was her close friend.

So when Robinson passed away earlier this year at age 81, many of her lives felt a little quieter.

“Oh, she was a character,” Wright told CBC Hamilton. “She was small framed, but boy, could she go.”

Robinson was known for his laughter and jokes, but also loved giving back to his community.

That's why, when Wright was at her funeral and brought up the idea of ​​a blanket drive in her memory, her family immediately agreed.

The Wright and Silver Voice Seniors Group in partnership with the Hamilton Regional Indian Center (HRIC) is hosting a blanket drive. The center is accepting blankets until Dec. 17 at 34 Ottawa St. N.

“We decided that … we'd make her a little bit proud of us and she'd teach us to give back,” Wright said.

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Robinson was part of the Michipicoten First Nation and had lived in Hamilton for 36 years. He died on September 25.

“She was always helping someone in need,” Wright said.

2 friends bond over bingo

Wright and Robinson met about 10 years ago when they bonded over their love for bingo.

The couple didn't make much money from their “bingo career”, but still had fun.

“She had this horseshoe. And every time we went to bingo, she put this horseshoe on the table to bring us good luck,” Wright said.

“It very, very rarely ever happens.”

Robinson was described as funny, spontaneous and adventurous. His health began to decline and he began to lose some of his independence after breaking his leg a few years ago.

According to Alesha Grant, one of Robinson's more than 30 grandchildren, it was “not like Lucy” to rely on others for daily living.

In 2023, despite her failing health, Robinson organized a blanket drive for HRIC to distribute to those in need.

“She knows her time is coming and she just wanted to do one last hurrah, get out there and try to make a difference,” Grant said.

Robinson put her two children to work and had them collect blankets from family and friends who called in person to ask for donations.

“He had this urge to help,” Grant said.

The family hopes the blanket drive will become an annual tradition

Grant said her grandmother would call her every day, asking for a favor or just to “talk or gossip.”

“Seems calm now,” she said.

She remembers her long road trips with Robinson the most, and said she was always on the go.

He and his mother, Iona Virta, hope the blanket drive will become an annual tradition.

“It's just something that she loved to do that we can do for her (now),” Veerata said.

Robinson loved second-hand shopping and owned her own thrift store, according to Grant, calling her “kind of a hoarder.”

Late in his life, he used shopping as an activity to share with his family, Grant said.

“He loved the giant tiger,” Wright said.

“I'm surprised Giant Tiger hasn't had to lay off people to reduce sales because Lucy Robinson isn't able to go there and buy there stuff.”

Robinson also had several grandchildren. According to Wright, her partner, Al, passed away about six years ago.

“He treated her like gold,” Wright said.

“I knew when I saw her waking up that she was at peace, that she was happy now because she was with Al.”