Project Linus Newsletter

  

December 15,2022

Hello and Merry Christmas Blanketeers, 

 

                          Year End Report

    Today- closing off the business of 2022 and getting ready to start the new year of 2023.  The total blankets delivered to children in 2022 was 2696! Our chapter has delivered a grand total (since its inception under our founder Kathy Marrow) of 33,696 blankets.  

    We have developed new delivery sites and lost some of the older ones.  Change is the only constant it seems.

     We also have welcomed our new partner to our chapter this year - our new official assistant:  Karen Heaton.  Happy to have a partner.  

                           Christmas Fun

    This month at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church we enjoyed a blanket making day complete with Christmas lunch as a thank you to our volunteers.  Yesterday, the Riverton group of blanket makers also had a lovely day with the quilters at Mountain Vista Methodist Church – a brunch and blanket making.  

     Here is the planned schedule for blanket days next year.  Of course, it always depends on weather, holidays, and other unexpected events.  But this is the plan.

OSLC 10:00 to 1:00                      MVMC  1:00 to 3:00

January 9^th                                   January 18^th

February 6^th                                 February 15^th

March 5^th                                     March 15^th

April 3^rd                                       April 19^th

May1^st                                          May 17^th

June 5^th                                        June 21^st

July 10^th                                       July 19^th

August 7^th                                    August 16^th

September 11^th                             September 20^th

October 2^nd                                 October 18^th

November 6^th                              November 15^th

December 4^th                              December 20^th

                          

                           Shop with a Cop

     This year the officers did not contact me about delivery. I tried to reach them I found that my contact officer was no longer in charge of the Pay it Forward program.  The new one had no clue that we have always donated and been a part of that special day.

      Detective Hadlock is now in charge of outreach programs and was sorry to miss us.  But, now we have a new idea!  She wants to pick a school where there are low-income families and homeless children.  She will give blankets to a couple of kindergarten classes before Christmas break. I agree that it is a good thing for Children to see police officers in a positive role.  She also wants to have Linus blankets in the patrol cars so they can give comfort to kids on the scene of an encounter.  

 

                           Hospitals  

      Recently hospitals have been so overwhelmed with junky blankets - fleece tied in knots or cut every which way- that several hospitals have refused to take any blankets at all.  

     The LDS Hospital is scheduled to close soon and scheduled to be rebuilt further south in the city.   The new-born unit in Salt Lake Regional downtown has no need for the gifts at this time.  

     However, Riverton Hospital, under the direction of their Children’s Program coordinator Kristine Hatton is flourishing.  She has organized deliveries to every part of the hospital from newborn to out-patient etc.  She needs anywhere from 60 to 80 blankets a month – all fleece and no quilts. 

     Alta View Hospital gives our blankets from the gift shop to moms who check out with their new babies.

       The key to being successful in getting the blankets to the needy ones in the hospitals - is to have one person on site who directs the program.  Otherwise, they get lost in the maze of care giving. 

             Social Services

 

     We also deliver many quilts and blankets to social services in the County.  

      Children’s Justice Center in Riverton has been very happy to have our blankets – 60 last month.  But again, fleece only, and only large size. They are a comfort for a child who has just endured a forensic exam.  

      Guardian ad Litem program has been distributing our blankets for at least the 10 years that I know of.  They go to children who have been assigned an attorney to represent them.  They are distributed at the rate of about 40 to 60 a month and are very comforting to a child in that stressful situation.  

     Family Road Home is a gracious recipient of quilts.  They never put them with the stacks of general donations – but put them inside in a special space. 

     Refugee Services is always in need of quilts – larger ones.  Hearts Knit Together is happy to have small quilts.  

    So, there is a place for every blanket made with love and care.  With your help we plan to keep them coming. 

 

See you all Next Year,

Millie      

      

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 November 2022 Newsletter

Hi Blanketeers,

                              Good News for our Chapter.  

     We now have an Assistant Coordinator to help us in our quest to supply children with security blankets.  Karen Heaton has volunteered for the position; and has been approved by the National office.  Many of you know her already, but here is a bit of background about her that you might enjoy reading. 

     Karen is from Maryland, and relocated to Sandy, Utah in 1996.  She has two daughters, and her husband JD has 5.  They have 10 grandchildren.  She loves to sew, crochet, make fringe blankets and quilts.  She has an interesting and varied career working in human services.  She retired from the State of Utah, in May of 2021, after holding various positions In The Department of Resource Management.

         We welcome her participation, her hand-work skills. AND - her computer skills are a great help.  WELCOME Karen!    

 

                 

               Blanket Making Days

 

Next meeting at OSLC November 7^th 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

 

Next meeting at MVMC November 16^th - 1:00 pm  to 3:00 pm

                         

 

                  Mtn Vista Church Fall Boutique 

    The quilters of this church donate scores of handmade quilts to our PL chapter every month.  They also invite you all to visit their annual fund raiser event.  They will have handmade items,  art, Christmas gifts, clothing, music, a variety of vendors, and there is the wonderful food.  It will be great fun.  Saturday, November 5^th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  

 

                             Holiday Season 

    The holidays will arrive starting in November and we must be prepared in advance to distribute to many locations.  This is a busy time for all of us, but we want to be ready, in advance, with blankets for kids.  

     The shopping event where kids shop with officers of Unified Police Force is one event in which we participate annually.  We wouldn’t want any child in any crisis situation to be without a PL security blanket during the holidays.                       

 

                         P L Blanketeers              

Many thanks for all that you volunteers do.  It may be making blankets, labeling, packaging, delivering, purchasing and donating supplies, fund raising, preparing fabric, recruiting workers, and, of course, enjoying blanket making days.  I wish you all a happy  

Thanksgiving.

 Blessings, Millie

 

         

 September 5, 2022

Hello Blanketeers,

 

If you want to attend a fun social with other women – come to blanket making days.  You don’t have to bring any fabric or equipment.  

 

Looking forward to blanket making days in September.  We are scheduled to meet together at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Monday September 12^th from 10:00 to 1:00 pm.   

 

Also, Jackie Cohen has scheduled her Riverton Group to meet at Mtn Vista Methodist Church on September 21^st from 1:00 to 3:00.  Everyone is invited.  

 

There are lots of ways to become involved in our non-profit to provide security blankets for children in crisis.  If you prefer not to make blankets but want to help – consider:

          Labeling on your sewing machine

         Assisting with packaging

         Cutting fabric to prepare for blanket makers

         Punching holes around fleece fabric for crochet work

         Delivering to some sites

         Hemstitching flannel for crochet

         Long arm quilting services

         Donating child-friendly fabric – fleece, flannel, cotton 

Fund raising – is always welcome.  

 

                  Quilting – then and now

 

    Modern day hand-made quilt design has become an art form in the era of reliance on technology.  Yes, you can buy a quilt from Walmart – but you won’t have the hands of your grandmother or mother or aunt putting love and art into your quilt- designed specifically for you. 

 

     In the days of settlement of the Western U S, quilts were made from anything women could get their hands on. Potato sacks, flower sacks, worn out clothing, old curtains, -you name it.  

   Of course, those quilts were used to keep warm, but they also served as room dividers, window covers, wagon cushions, and doors.  Quilts were done in groups – quilting bees, or alone, like this one. 

     This is a picture of a quilt made in 1913 by Mollie Hale of Sumpter Valley Oregon.  The machine she sewed with was a modern piece of equipment in those days.  

  

     We give our thanks to the several quilters and quilting groups who deliver beautiful quilts to our chapter of PL every month.  (Mount Vista Church Quilters, Square Corner Quilters, and Sweet Charity Sisters) We also want to thank all  the individual people every month who donate their hand-made quilts to PL for us to give to children.

 

Blessings,  Millie

August 2022 Project Linus Newsletter

 

Dear Blanketeers,

   

                This month’s blanket making days: 

August 8^th 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 

August 24^th Riverton Group with Jackie Cohen-- 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Mtn Vista Methodist Church

 

                           A Special Thanks 

     A special thanks to Patsy Bueno, who has been the Assistant Chapter Coordinator in our Salt Lake County chapter for several years.  Patsy will be taking a break from this important job to spend time with her husband Tony who is experiencing some health issues.  

                      Looking for Instructions?

 

     Here is a list of the kinds of blankets that we accept and distribute to children.  If a blanket isn’t perfect it will not be given to a child.  Just keep in mind as you create blankets that we not only want our blankets to provide a sense of security, but also think of them as keepsakes for the child recipient. 

Please do your best work and use the best materials.

 

Crochet and Knit  

These baby blankets have specific requirements

Use only baby colors

Use soft yarn – but not yarn than sheds

Size may vary from 36x36 up to 45x45

Stitches must be close and secure.Spaces and Gaps are traps for babies’ fingers

Example

                                                        

If you wish to donate fleece blankets – we accept:

Fleece Fringed

 Single layers only

No tied knotted edges

Child friendly patterns and colors

Use the Salt Lake

Chapter Pattern found at:

projectlinus.blogspot.com

Example:

        

Fleece Crochet Edges

Most any size is helpful and welcome

Child friendly patterns and color

Example

Receiving blankets

Use double sided flannel – matching or coordinated

Many different styles are acceptable

Mitered corners, Rounded edges,

Or 

Crocheted Edges  

 

Quilts

Small quilts – use thin batting

Tied throughout or long arm quilting are both acceptable

 

         Thank you letters and Acknowledgments

   I think it is sad for our participants not to know the joy their work gives to the moms, babies, little kids, and teens.  I do receive these kinds of letters often and most of them are personal and cannot be shared on this blog.  Wanted to let you know that they are received often.

 

                From Riverton Hospital: David L. Flood

“Intermountain Foundation gratefully acknowledges your gifts in-kind.  Your gifts will directly impact our patients and communities and further our mission to help people live the healthiest lives possible.  Thanks for being a part of our donor family.” 

 

                 From Joyful Welcome Board

“Thank you so much for your generous donation.  Your kindness has helped in our efforts to provide new parents in need with essential items for their babies.”

 

The work and caring of the Linus volunteers is always received with love.  

 

Blessings,   Millie

 

Salt Lake County Project Linus Newsletter

June- 2022

 

Dear Blanketeers,

     

      Our work goes on – The first and second quarter of 2022 resulted in distributing 1470 blankets to children in Salt Lake County.  

      Blanket Group Work-Days in July: Stay and work or just drop off what you have ready.

          OSLC Monday July 11^th, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

         Riverton Group MVMC July 20^th, 1:00 to 3:00 pm

 

      This blog was designed to keep our regular subscribers up to date and involved.  It only goes as a notification to those who have asked to receive it. 

 

     However, we find that we often send this blog as an information source for people who inquire about what we do or want to get involved.  The blog also has information for those inquiries about how to make a blanket that will qualify for a Linus label and where our blankets are delivered.  

Some information is included here. 

 

     Our blankets go to many hospitals and social services organizations:

     

Guardian ad Litem – (The legal office where children are assigned a lawyer to represent during a legal custody assignment.)  SLC program has around 40 lawyers who handle these cases.  The kids choose a blanket leaving the appointment – hopefully gives them comfort at this stressful time in their lives. 

DDI Vantage Program – This program is an Early Head Start program that assists families – and our blankets go to mothers of babies from birth to 3 years old.  

Children’s Justice Centers – When children up to age 18 are referred here they go through a forensic examination.  Our larger blankets are offered as kids complete this exam. It’s our way of giving possible comfort as they leave.   

NICU’s, and Newborn – We regularly deliver to these sites every month as gifts to the moms as the babies are discharged from the hospitals:   St. Marks, Alta View, Salt Lake Regional, LDS, & Riverton Hospital

Riverton Hospital – This hospital has a special Children’s program managed by Kristine Hatton.  This program reaches children across every part of the hospital – emergency, in- patient, out-patient, as well as NICU.  

Refugee Services Storehouse – Gives our blankets up to  kids to age 18.

Family Road Home – Our blankets get special handling here. as many donations to this site are used items and ours are new and gift quality – gift packaged.  

Pay it Forward – This event at Christmas time was previously named “Shop With a Cop”.  Our program has donated about 50 blankets each event for the past 10 years.

Joyful Welcome – This program makes donation packages of various items (including a blanket) to women who qualify. They serve children from birth to 3 years old. 

Hearts Knit Together – This is a program that makes up bags (including a blanket) for battered women’s centers.  As women with children check in, they find these comforting items for their children. 

Military Families, Police, Natural Disasters, Summer camps for handicapped children, and Individuals in need – These are also included in our deliveries as needed.   

 

This cannot happen without the constant support from each of you who make blankets and raise funds.  The only way we continue to do this work is with you Blanketeers.   You are appreciated – You make it all possible.

Blessings,  Millie and Patsy

  SLC Project Linus News April 2022 

Hello Blanketeers,

           OSLC Blanket Day

We are planning to meet together at OSLC on April 11th from 10:00am to 1:00pm.  On that day we will be happy to receive the blankets you have made during the last month.  Also we will plan to spend the time making fringe fleece blankets.  Remember the church still requires mask wearing.  See you then.

             Riverton Group Blanketeers

Mountain Vista Methodist Church has been sharing its space used for weekly quilting, with our blanket making group on a once a month basis.  This blanket making day is usually on the 3rd Wednesday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  For details contact group leader Jackie Cohen at: Jacalyntools@hotmail.com.   This is a great chance to share and make new friends.  

              Riverton Hospital

Patsy Bueno has organized an amazing successful program at this Hospital.  The program is coordinated by Kristine Hatton - Child Life Program.  This involves blankets for all children in every area of the hospital, from emergency room, in patient care, including ICU and NICU areas. The definition of child-care is from birth to age 18.  “The child first and always”

     From the hospital:    

               “On behalf of the patients who will benefit from your generosity, thank you for your thoughtful donations.  With appreciation, David L Flood, President - Intermountain Foundation.”

Refugees

There are so many kids who are needing to find comfort in a new home and sometimes even in a new country.  We are trying to get security blankets to these kids thru the Utah Refugee Connection.  That program is going well and we are so happy to participate.

    Happy Spring

    Millie and Patsy

         

    

Project Linus News 2-25-22

 February 25, 2022  Project Linus News 

Happy days are here again!!

     We are scheduled to meet together for blanket making at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Monday March 7th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.  And Riverton Group will be meeting this month also, on March 16th at 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Mountain Vista Church.

     If you have blankets to donate, please bring them on those days.  Hopefully we will be able to continue this kind of meeting now that the nasty virus is not so aggressive.  

    We will be ok with continuing to meet you at your front porch to pick up and deliver if you don’t feel comfortable meeting in a group.  We will, for sure, be masking up and staying our distance as we work.  We will not have open food, but will have packaged treats, coffee and tea. Please join us.    

     

    So sorry to have to give you this sad news.  Lynn Milsap has been ill recently and has passed away on February 4th.  Lynn was a lovely and talented producer of hand-made blankets.  And she was a devoted Linus Project supporter for many years.  She and Edrie Bridenbaugh took over the Riverton blanket making group after Kristin Vance moved, and necessarily gave up the coordinator’s position in Salt Lake County.  Lynn was a loyal and busy contributor to our project.  She was meticulous in her work. I will always remember when she cautioned me to be “more careful” when I cut fabric.  Lynn’s devotion will not be forgotten.  She will certainly be missed.  

     We have a new distribution site developed since October.  Riverton Hospital.  Kristine Hatton, who is a Child Life Specialist, has a Children’s program that covers every department of the hospital from NICU, to surgery, to emergency, etc.  Patsy has been delivering some 50 or more blankets there every month and Kristine is very efficient in getting them to the children who are hospitalized. An important part of our distribution program is having an on site person who is dependable and committed to getting the blankets to kids who need a security blanket.  

Looking forward to Spring,

Millie & Patsy