October, 2016
Have you heard about Project Linus?
Fabric for blankets
About a year ago, my friend Wendy introduced me to this loving project that was inspired by an article in Parade Magazine back in 1995, about Laura, a petite three-year old girl who was battling the horrors of Leukemia. In the write-up, her mother mentioned how a special “blankie” had accompanied her daughter to the hospital throughout two years of treatments. It had helped comfort little Laura while undergoing the pain and suffering that often accompanies chemotherapy.
Being moved by the article, Karen Loucks decided to make special blankets for the children at Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Center in Denver and Project Linus was born.
Today there are Project Linus chapters in all 50 states. They continue to collect and donate blankets for any child who might need to be comforted or in need of a big hug. The blankets are lovingly distributed to children in hospitals, to social service agencies and shelters.
Their two-part mission states:
- FIRST – Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
- SECOND – Provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Wendy is a gifted seamstress and was looking for another project. I asked her if we could join forces – I would provide the fabric is she would do all the hard work of sewing and putting the many strips/pieces together creating the final product.
She graciously agreed and then offered to send me half of the blankets when they were finished so that I could donate them to our local chapter. She would donate the balance of the blankets in Southern Oregon.
The timing was perfect because JoAnn’s Fabric was having their yearly fabric sale that included soft flannels. Sooooo, off I went to see what trouble I could get into. I had so much fun picking out combinations that I thought would be cute, child appropriate patterns, and prints that might appeal to either a little boy or a little girl.
Here is just small sample of the selections I made that day:
A package just arrived from Wendy and I am so pleased to share some of the adorable quilts/blankets that she finished.
Seven of the finished blankets ready to donate
If you are interested in helping this worthwhile organization, please check out their website at http://www.projectlinus.org. On the home page you will find information on the local chapters, patterns and links for sewing blankets and knitting or crocheted afghans, a FAQ section, and how/where to donate.
As always, thank you for being a part of our extended family. We normally are sharing our travel plans and destinations, but occasionally we like to fill you in on some of the worthwhile projects our family gets involved in.
Which reminds me, that I wanted to do a little follow-up and share a short video we received regarding the backpacks for the homeless project that some of you helped us with late last year.
We divided the 100 backpacks up and half went to help the homeless in our mountain communities located near our cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains. The other half we gave to our long-time friend Ray Castellani, founder of Frontline Foundation, who has personally delivered over 1,000,000 meals to the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles. He agreed to distribute the remaining packs to those most in need on Skid Row. His website is now sadly neglected, and was last updated back in 2003, but his work, dedication and love for those less fortunate continues to this date even though his health at 83 years young prevents him from going as often as he once did.
Here is Ray’s heartfelt message of appreciation:
In case you are new to our blog since we did the backpacks for the homeless project, you can click here to find out what we did, what went into the packs, and our assembly party.
We will soon be posting more travel related pictures and stories as we depart in less than two weeks for Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Hope you will join us!
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful for the kindness, love and generosity of others. At a time that our country is being lambasted with political drama, fighting, verbal pollution and divisiveness, it is refreshing to step back and instead focus on what is RIGHT with our country and citizens. A most sincere thank you to all who continue to help those less fortunate, whether by sharing a smile, giving a hug or sincere compliment, offering a hand-up, donate to a favorite cause, donating your time, or do a random act of kindness. Those are the actions that define us as a people and as a country.
And of course a special thank you to Wendy for creating these beautiful quilts. They are sure to brighten someone’s day and give a gift of comfort.
A Note From Abroad 
those are just beautiful – and what a great way to combine resources! I love that you and your family get involved in BIG community projects that make a difference to people. I will check out my local linus project group.
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I was so tickled to find out about this project and think that Wendy did a fabulous job of making the blankets. Looking forward to them getting to just the right little boy or girl.
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Such a blessing!
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Thank you Bobbi. We feel so fortunate to be able to give this gift of comfort.
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This is such a lovely and inspiring post, thanks for sharing this beautiful story with us.
https://danielasoriano.com/
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Thanks Daniela and welcome to our blog!
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Thans guys!
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What a wonderful and very worthwhile project, how lovely to be involved with something like this. Beautiful post.
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Thank you Miriam
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What a fantastic, heartfelt idea! A little girl in our neighborhood is battling Leukaemia. I think I’ll make her a blanket! 😀
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YES! I’m delighted that you have been inspired to do that. Thank you for your kindness and reaching out to make a difference.
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A wonderful cause… everyone can use a blankie on occasion. Thanks for your contribution. –Curt
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Curt, it was one of those “feel good” projects.
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What a refreshing post! Project Linus is just awesome. Thanks for shedding some Light in these often tense times. B Blessed! 🙂
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Hello Lilka! So happy to spread the word about a project that is aimed at helping children during their most vulnerable times. Appreciate your kind comment.
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What a lovely blog site glad i found you.
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We are glad too! So happy to have you join us.
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thank you.
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Those pieces are beautiful..
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Didn’t she do a beautiful job on them. We are tickled to be able to give these special gifts of love.
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I am reading a fiction book that mentions Linus Project just now
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What timing! If the book turns out to be a winner, please share the name…
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It is: The shop on Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber, 2004
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I have read a couple books that she wrote and enjoy her as an author. Thank you.
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Even as adults we need some thing to give us comfort it can be some thing very simple. I can imagin how important the blankets are to these children, god bless those who thought of this and made it all possible.
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I too am thankful that an article in a magazine was an inspiration that led to this marvelous project. We just never know where our words might lead.
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Excellent.
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Beautiful
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Thanks!
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My pleasure
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What a wonderful post for a super idea. God bless everyone involved.
Have any of the fabric stores signed on to donate fabrics (nationals like JoAnne’s) or to provide them at cost (smaller local outfits), or held Linus Blanket sewing circles in their stores (where they usually hold classes), etc.?
Seems like that would be a HUGE win-win-win — and a great news photo-op to generate feel-good publicity that might get even more people involved. Do you know if anyone has approached them?
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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Hello Madelyn, I don’t know if anyone has ever approached any of the fabric stores, but love your suggestion. I’m really new to this project, but agree that it would be a win, win, win for all. In the meantime, I’m waiting for JoAnn’s yearly 75% off sale around Thankgiving time to stock up on fabric for the next batch of blankets.
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Sounds like a perfect time to approach your local store. If nothing else, they might give you first dibs — allowing you to select project-perfect fabrics before the sale actually begins & before they are picked over. You could suggest that you are willing to return to pay for them the first day of the sale, in case their registers need to record a certain date for auto-bookkeeping purposes.
Clothing stores often do something similar for their favorite customers, and that’s not any more important than “customer appreciation.”
If you’re brave enough to ask the store manager, the sooner the better — give them time to check with whomever they must. They might surprise you.
In any case, what a wonderful project!
xx,
mgh
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Such a beautiful and inspiring story and the blankets too are so amazing. Just so happy to know what a blessing you both are to the people.👌👌👌👌👌
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Thank you so much. Anything that can bring comfort to a child during a frightening time is a blessing. I love this project.
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You r doing an awesome job friends. Bless you and it is so good to give to people who are under privileged.
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I understand this blanket concept. When you have open heart surgery they give you a heart shaped pillow to hold against your chest when coughing. It is supposed to give you a sense of being held together in early healing I suppose. Well, I still have mine and have slept with it every night since that day, Mar. 16, 2006.
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Carl, thank you so much for sharing your personal story and what that gift of the pillow meant to you. I sincerely hope you are healthy and thriving today.
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Doing very well, thank you. I have the good genes. Father will be 93 Nov 29.
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lovely blog and nice project
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Thank you!
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I have heard of this lovely project and have seen it in action at my local hospital.
https://reallifeofanmsw.com
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I’m so pleased to hear that it is known and being utilized in your area.
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So well written. Touching!
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A truly incredible project. Bravo !!
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Thank you. We too think it is pretty awesome 😃
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Thank you for visiting my blog and absolutely delighted to visit yours and see your awesome words about Project Linus. I’ve been a Linus member for a few years now and have “graduated” into making twin quilts (whoo hoo!). Many chapters, including mine, have a “storeroom” (ours is an actual storeroom at a local fabric shop where we meet monthly) of donated fabric (good size scraps to much appreciated mega-yards). I am one of the many members who have taken the opportunity to learn basic quilting (having never sewn much of anything) using the donated fabric and then give the finished quilts back for distribution.
Fun photos (a la Monet) of some of the Linus quilts can be found at Recipes for a Summer’s Day Re-Post @ Justmecoloringoutsidethelines.com
Enjoy your next adventure!!
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Carla, it is wonderful to “meet” someone else familiar with the Linus Project. It sounds like you have a very active local chapter. Thank you for the work you are doing. I never thought about making twin quilts. Love that idea!
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Just an FYI for your readers who might be interested, Linus distributes blankets to kids in need from birth through 18 years of age (foster care, classrooms in low socioeconomic areas, hospitals, homeless, or just going through a rough time etc.). The teens and pre-teens really appreciate the theme/size appropriate blankets ~
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This is such a great thing all around, I tip my hat to your virtue and kindness!
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It feels good to be able to give back.
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It is the highest bliss!
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What a beautiful project! I can hardly sew a button, let alone make a blanket, otherwise I’d be glad to help.
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Kim, I too have not done any sewing in years, so I was very fortunate to be able to partner with someone who loves to sew. I had the easy part in supplying the fabric for the blankets.
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Oh yes! I have given two quilts to Project Linus 🙂
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Wonderful! I know how much they are appreciated.
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Great blog! I’m a new follower!
Ena https://prettyplusandproud.wordpress.com/
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Thank you Ena!
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