Volunteer donates bright cheerful blankets

Recently I got a few boxes of blankets from a volunteer and her Florida "sunbird" neighbors.  The above quilts were made by Kandee, who has such a great color sense that I had to share.    These  bright and cheerful blankets will light up the smiles on a few kids soon.   I'm looking forward to including them in some of my deliveries soon.

Praze Craze Teens make blankets for Teens in Crisis

Praze Craze youth group from Salem United Methodist Church, under the leadership of Josh Stevens, used part of the last day of their spring break to make fleece blankets for other teens. 10 blankets were completed. These blankets will be earmarked for the next occasion when a large group of teens need a hug or some extra comfort. The short video which explains the Project Linus mission was shown before these young ladies began making blankets. Thanks, girls! It was fun!

Self Binding Receiving Blanket

I saw flannel blankets made by this technique in a quilt shop in Safford Arizona, so I asked around and found another Project Linus Coordinator who knew where to find the directions. I just knew that my volunteers would like to learn how to do this!

One particular facility here on the shore is always in need of baby blankets for their very young new moms. Fast and easy, this method allows us to make some blankets quickly!

Dear Abby Feb 13, 2012

DEAR ABBY: You often suggest volunteer work as a way of combating loneliness or boredom. Research has shown that volunteering has health benefits as well as social benefits. In addition to the pride, satisfaction and accomplishment for the individuals involved, volunteer work also strengthens communities. That's why I hope you will support Project Linus by telling your readers about its national Make a Blanket Day on Saturday, Feb. 18.On that day volunteers across the country will be making quilts, blankets and afghans that will be donated to children ages 0-18 who are experiencing stressful situations such as hospitalizations, natural disasters, foster care and homelessness.No sewing skills are required. Volunteers can help if they can thread a needle, cut with scissors and tie a knot. Thank you, Abby, for sharing the information about this worthwhile project with your many readers. -- KAREN IN SNOHOMISH, WASH.

DEAR KAREN: I'm pleased to help spread the word. Dear Abby readers are the kindest, most generous people in the world. Those who are interested in obtaining more information, or locating a local chapter that will be sponsoring a work party on Feb. 18, should visit www.projectlinus.org.

Project Linus Blanket Bee, Phoenix AZ

On Saturday, January 28, I

had the pleasure of attending a Blanket Bee in Phoenix, Arizona with Judee Agee, the former coordinator of the chapter here. Judee and I met years ago at a Project Linus Annual Conference in Bloomington IL. For me, it was a very pleasant day. I am bringing new ideas back to my group! The meeting room was filled to overflowing with about 70 ladies, men and teens, all there to make blankets for kids. It was a beautiful winter day here. The meeting room overlooked the red rock mountains of Phoenix and activities spilled outside onto the sidewalk! Some of us were sewing, many were crocheting & knitting. One volunteer ironed quilt tops for the quilters. One teen organized a table full of donated yarn, then folded and distributed many yards of quilting fabrics. Another dedicated teen checked every blanket for accidental pins by hanging blankets on the rack in the pictures, then scanning with an airport type metal detector! Other volunteers labeled, bagged and tagged blankets, getting them ready for delivery and loading bags into cars and trucks. Over 360 blankets were received and readied for delivery to kids!

The energy of the group recharged my battery! About 400 Project Linus chapters are found all over the United States. We don't do things the same way, we do work with the same guidelines, but our basic purpose and mission is the same-- to comfort hurting children by providing a handmade blanket just for them. An equally important sideline is to provide a wonderful activity for people to use their hearts and their talents to make the blankets. Not all the volunteers who help will actually sew or knit. It takes many hands to do our work! We need energetic volunteers to do recordkeeping, publicity, delivery, organizing, building things, setting up the rooms and loading the vehicles. A job for everyone!

Signature Quilt for a special lady. For those of you who contributed blocks or are about to, here is the colorful results of so many PL volunteers! I will add photos as blocks arrive.

Delivering 100 Blankets

Nemours Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington DE is one of my favorite facilities.

Rob and I had the opportunity to take 100 wonderful, colorful blankets to the children's hospital. There the Child Life Coordinators will use them in very special ways for sick, fragile and hurting children. I know that Christmas is coming soon and the whole department is preparing for the programming they have for the kids. We are lucky to have a world reknown children's hospital here on the DelMarVa Peninsula! Its good to be able to help them, help children.