TOWN OF TONAWANDA — A little girl’s big idea has brought a lot of love, and warmth, to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

If she gets enough votes in a nationwide contest, she’ll win enough money to keep the warmth going.

Nine-year-old Anna Stang is among 10 national semi-finalists in the “Kids Who Give” program sponsored by Farm Rich, a frozen foods brand of Buffalo-based Rich Products.

The program’s goal is to recognize the good deeds of young kids like Anna, whose idea was inspired by the effect chemotherapy was having on her aunt.

“We received many terrific entries, but felt Anna Stang’s story was particularly special,” said Megan Grinstead, a Farm Rich spokesperson. “Only 9 years old, she is helping to make chemotherapy patients more comfortable with her blankets. Anna’s level of concern for helping others is truly remarkable.”

A little over a year ago, Anna’s aunt, Renee Luzi, began chemotherapy for cervical cancer. Because of a liquid medication dripped into their blood stream during chemotherapy, patients such as Luzi can often feel cold after their treatment.

So Anna decided to make a blanket for her aunt. She and her mom, Lauren, went with Luzi to a local fabrics store and picked out some fleece, measured it, cut it together, and then Anna put the two pieces together and secured them by tying knots.

Anna, who will be entering the fourth grade at St. John the Baptist School, invited some friends over and, in the living room of the Stangs’ Tonawanda home, made 10 more blankets for some of the other patients at Gynecologic Oncology Associates of WNY, where Luzi was receiving treatments. “They were gone just like that,” Lauren Stang said.

“It makes me feel good to know that other people are being touched by what I do, and they’re giving us donations,” Anna said. “I thought to do this because I didn’t want (Luzi, her aunt) to feel cold anymore and to help the other ladies to feel warmer too. I wanted to make them happy when they were sick, too.”

The center was thrilled by her generosity. “They don’t get donations very often, and it’s only for women who have gynecological cancers, so they were thrilled that they had gotten this donation,” Anna’s mom added.

“When we got there they were all surprised. I actually got a letter from one of the patients,” Anna said. “It was a thank you note for the beautiful blanket I made for her.”

Once finished, each blanket was folded up and tied with a ribbon. A tag was placed in each ribbon also, featuring the names of the kids who helped make the blanket on one side and an inspirational quote on the other. The blankets were then blessed at St. John the Baptist Church.

Anna’s idea seems to have taken off. “It’s had a ripple effect,” her mom said. “Hearing about it makes people feel good.”

The Stangs have gotten the word out about the Kids Who Give voting through the online social networking site Facebook, and by contacting co-workers. “I sent out an e-mail to a bunch of people at my work, and these people, some I’ve never even heard of before, that work there are like, ‘Oh this is so amazing, I’m going to vote every day,’” said Anna’s dad, Jason.

This past weekend, Anna and her friends from St. John the Baptist Church filled the community room and made more than a dozen additional blankets.

“We got three blankets done because we were really fast,” said Anna. “Our table was the first to finish three (blankets) and the first people to finish five pieces of pizza in under five minutes.”

“It was neat because there were kids that had experienced cancer in their own families, so the girls were feeling kind of empowered by this because they were able to do something like this for other people that have been touched by cancer,” Lauren said. “It was really kind of neat to hear the conversation between the kids.”

Even Anna’s younger brother Jackson and sister Sophia helped out.

“It’s just cutting and knotting and that’s it,” Lauren Stang said, adding that she helps the kids with the cutting part. “That’s why these blankets are great for kids to help. It’s something that they can do and feel like they’ve accomplished that on their own independently. They just have to know how to tie a knot.”

If Anna wins the $1,000 prize from the Kids Who Give campaign, she’ll be able to make about 50 more blankets. Voting on the semi-finalists runs until July 20. To cast a vote, visit www.KidsWhoGive.com.

“We’ll have to do 10 a day because if we do any more, then people will get way too tired,” Anna said.

Anna wants to make more to send to troops in Afghanistan and for patients undergoing kidney dialysis.

“She’s got lots of ideas of where she wants to bring them to,” her mom said.

“So we need more blankets,” Anna replied.