January 2021 Newsletter

January 2021 Newsletter

Dear Blanketeers, 

 

Wishing everyone good health, happiness, and return of old- fashioned social interaction.

 

    The last time we met as a group to make blankets was January 2020.  Our plan to meet in February was canceled by a huge snow-storm and from March to December you already know that story – the pandemic!  

     However, when there is a will there is a way.  The biggest part of our mission is to make and distribute security blankets to children in need of comfort.  Though we have missed the sharing, socializing, working together in groups for this entire past year, we have continued to carry on with the most important part of our mission.  We have adapted, donated, produced amazing blankets, and made deliveries to hundreds of children in need.

 

     Our Statistics for the year – 2643 comfort blankets - delivered to children of the county.

  

     Since our Salt Lake County chapter was founded by Kathy Marrow, in consort with Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church - a grand total of 27,966 blankets have been distributed.  

 

      Kristin Vance continued in the position of Coordinator when Kathy moved out of state.  Then the baton was passed to me – Millie - and with the capable assistance of Patsy Bueno we have kept moving on.  The challenge of this past year has involved individual and virtual communication with blanketeers.   Like all of you, we have learned to adapt to our challenges.

 

 

        “Pay It Forward”  - The new name for the police project - “Shop With A Cop"

        This picture is Officer Dustin Parks as he picks up the blankets that will be given to children.  The usual event involved officers picking up children, driving them to breakfast, taking them shopping at Walmart.  At that event they also received a Linus blanket.  

     In the face of “the virus”, the Unified Police had to find a new way to forge positive connections with children.  They contacted designated families, got a list of what the children wanted for Christmas, and then Walmart accumulated a package for each child (which included one of our blankets.)    Then on the 20^th of December, the cars drove through the parking lot, and the officers gave the gift packages.  

     We are so proud to be able to support this project again this year.

                                        Blanket Requirements

 

       This article may seem like “preaching to the choir” as all of you who subscribe to this blog already know the expectations for our blankets.  However, now this blog is listed through the national office at projectlinus.org and shows it as a “web site.”  Therefore, people see who we are and begin to make blankets to contribute without contacting us first to find out what we require and what we need.  This often results in time wasted and products we cannot distribute.  

       For example – we distribute no fleece blankets with knots around the edges.  We also need tightly crocheted baby blankets to be done with no large spaces in which babies could get fingers caught.   

     If you are a person reading this message and you want to participate we welcome you.  However, please call or email in advance to slcprojectlinus@gmail.com  or call Millie at 801-656-9229 or Patsy at 435-630-4110.   

 

Happy 2021,     Millie and Patsy