June newsletter

May 26, 2012 Blankets delivered: 8950      

Dear Blanketeers,

 Welcome to the new Blanketeers who have joined our chapter during the past month, we’re so glad to have you with us and hope you’ll love Project Linus as much as we do.   Be sure and let Kristin, Melissa or Millie know if you have any questions.  We appreciate everyone’s time & commitment to our chapter!

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be monday, June 4th.. come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2.   Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be tuesday, JUNE 19th at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 12:45 ****notice shorter time*****.  we’d love to see you there!  Unfortunately no food at the library L  the library has a summer program, what will shorten all of our meeting times this summer.

On May 14^th – Kristin & Melissa travelled to William Penn Elementary in Salt Lake to receive coloring book quilts from Mrs. Hunters 3^rd grade class.  They colored quilt blocks & Margo Hansen (who volunteers at the school & has a granddaughter in the 3^rd grade), who is also a part of Square Corner Quilters assembled & donated 5 beautiful quilts!  The students were able to show the quilts off at the school art show before donating them to Project Linus.  These quilts are amazing & so well done!  We so appreciate getting children involved.  Also another shout out to Kathy Morrow & Jean Ann *Mountain Vista* who assembled our other coloring book quilts.  They are at Highland Park Elementary for the students to enjoy before we package for delivery.  They are so amazing!!

We need a new tag printer!!  Let Kristin know if anyone has the access or ideas on who to contact.  The tags are double sized, printed on cardstock & used when we package a blanket.  If we have to pay for them, the cost is atleast $.40 a sheet.  I’m hoping we can find a company or printing service who’d like to make a donation to our chapter!

we are so excited!!!  We shipped 3 huge boxes & 1 smaller box for taps & their grief camp, this memorial weekend in arlington, va.  our chapter donated 132 blankets!!!!  way to go!  i know this project is very dear to many of you.  Thank you to all who made this effort possible!  Also, a huge thank you to larry holmes (husband of blanketeer carol) for his donation to cover the shipping costs.  that donation with the shipping discount offered by cody at our local herriman, ups store made the whole effort work!  for more information about where the blankets go see http://www.taps.org/

I am usually asked about what sizes we need.  Of course, we always need them all!! Lately we are running really low on our teen sizes (large, 2 yards) and even a little low on mediums (1.5 yards).  Also, please make sure you are buying big kid print on the large blankets.  They love the solids, animal prints & anything “teen” ish.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County.  Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis.  Every little bit helps & makes the world go round!

Happy June & hugs to all,

Kristin, Melissa & Millie

a note...

This is from Linda at the downtown Guardian ad Litem location

Thank you so much for all those lovely blankets you brought last week.  They are amazing.  I am beginning to notice some real creativity and I love them.  Your women are so thoughtful.  Thanks again and again.  We so appreciate you.

 

newsletter May 2012

April 26, 2012                                     Blankets delivered: 8841      

 Dear Blanketeers,

 Welcome to the new Blanketeers who have joined our chapter during the past month, we’re so glad to have you with us and hope you’ll love Project Linus as much as we do.   Be sure and let Kristin, Melissa or Millie know if you have any questions.  We appreciate everyone’s time & commitment to our chapter!

Be sure and check out our blog - slcprojectlinus.blogspot.com.  On the blog you’ll find the current newsletter, updates on blanket donations, instructions for making fleece blankets (great for people who can’t attend Make a Blanket Days and want to make fleece blankets), and do’s and don’ts. 

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be monday, May 7th.. come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2.   Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be tuesday, may 15th at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00.  we’d love to see you there!  Unfortunately no food at the library L

On April 10^th Kristin, Melissa & Millie were back at Highland Park Elementary in Salt Lake for coloring book quilts.  We traced pictures on muslin & ironed them onto freezer paper.  The students used fabric markers to color the pictures, which are currently being made into quilts!  This is a great way to get younger children involved in Linus & I’m so excited to see how the quilts turn out.  Thank you to my wonderful quilt makers: Kathy Morrow & the ladies at Mount Vista Methodist Church for all your work.  I plan to post pictures to the blog of the completed quilts.  We will take the quilts back to Highland Park so the students can see their amazing work before school is out for summer break.

Thrivent Financial Service for Lutherans has generously donated $800 to our chapter.  We’ll use the funds for blanket making supplies, mail and shipping supplies, and a few chapter expenses i.e.: brochures and paper.   Thank you, Thrivent for your much needed donation and to Bernie Sprecher for doing the leg work.

We are wrapping up TAPS blankets.  Thank you to all who have donated so far, I’m so excited because we will be shipping more than 100 blankets from our chapter this coming month!  the last day to turn in taps blankets will be monday, may 7^th.  please contact kristin if you have any to donate & we’ll get them picked up.  I’m so excited we can participate as a chapter & be able to contribute to such an amazing group.  for more information www.taps.org our blankets will be given to children attending a grief camp in arlington, va memorial weekend.

A giant thank you to Britton & her husband who have been so generous to our chapter & recently printed us 1000 blanket tags!  These are the tags that are attached on top of every blanket we deliver.  We so appreciate your time & donation from Target Bank in the form of printing.  The sad news…Britton’s husband is changing jobs & will no longer be able to provide us with tags.  We are researching & reaching out to see if anyone of our blanketeers know of anyone in the printing business or knows anyone that can help us with this part of our expenses.  The cost to print double sided cardstock adds up very quickly & our chapter is lovingly funded by donations only.  We receive no funding from corporate.  Please email or call Kristin if you know of anyone.  Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County.  Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis.  Every little bit helps & makes the world go round!

Happy spring (almost summer) & hugs to all,

Kristin, Melissa & Millie

April Newsletter

March 29, 2012                         Blankets delivered:  8710

Dear Blanketeers,

I’m going to hope for March to come in like a lion so we can finally enjoy some time outside in the sunshine!  Our chapter is doing well & busy as ever!

We recently received a request from West Jordan Guardian ad Litem for extra blankets for their shelter week.  We are in short supply of medium & large size blankets.  If you have any that you are finishing, please let me know so we can get them distributed asap.

New email:  slcprojectlinus@gmail.com for Kristin, Melissa or Millie

Be sure and check out our blog - slcprojectlinus.blogspot.com.  On the blog you’ll find the current newsletter, updates on blanket donations, instructions for making fleece blankets (great for people who can’t attend Make a Blanket Days and want to make fleece blankets), and do’s and don’ts. 

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be APRIL 2nd ... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2.   Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be APRIL 17th… at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00.

we have had several taps blankets donated & can’t wait to see what other red, white & blue patterns everyone can find.  These blankets are made for children who have lost a parent in service to our country.   We need large (60” x 72”) and medium (45” x 60”) blankets in patriotic colors.  Please – no knitted and crocheted blankets as they are too heavy and don’t travel well.  more information can be found at taps.org & our blankets are made for the children at good grief camp in May,(this is the only time our blankets travel outside of salt lake county).

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County.  Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis. 

Hugs to you all,

Kristin, Melissa & Millie

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

801-386-5917

March newsletter

February 27, 2012                            Blankets delivered: 8652

Dear Blanketeers,

What a busy month February has been!  So much to do, learn and accomplish!  Thank you to everyone who continue to support our chapter!  Without you it could not be done!!

We said goodbye to Kathy as our chapter coordinator, but she didn’t go far!  I knew she couldn’t stay away and we were so glad to see her at our blanket making days.  The ladies up at North Valley provided a nice lunch & yummy chocolate cake to honor Kathy for her time & friendship.  It was a great afternoon!  Our South Valley make a blanket day was cut short by another even at the library, but we accomplished lots in our short time & Kathy stopped by to see us for a while too!

I have a few introductions & wanted to share them with you.  I’m honored to take over as coordinator for our chapter, but could not do it without your helping hands & those who have been recruited as assistant coordinators.

 

Millie Martensen has agreed to organize things for our North Valley make a blanket day.  Millie is a retired educator.  She holds a BA degree in English and physical education,  MA in speech communications,  PhD in education administration.  Millie has taught in English in high schools; served as principal in elementary, junior high, and high school; has been director in district curriculum design and in school services – all in Granite District over a 32 year career.   As a child she learned to sew and has always loved to “make things.”  Upon hearing that the ladies in Project Linus would teach her how to make blankets she became interested.  She first learned the fringe technique, and then Nan taught her to crochet.  She has been a part of our chapter for two years and she says “helping children in crisis and being able to give to those in need (especially to children) is a joy and a privilege for me.”

 Melissa Thayer is our other assistant coordinator & you will meet her at both our make a blanket days.  Melissa was born and raised in Idaho.  As a small child she spent some time in Shiners Hospital to correct scoliosis and receive testing for a genetic condition that she has.  At that time personal blankets were not allowed as all of the girls were in one large room and they did not want anyone to feel left out because they were without a blanket.  But, one day her dad snuck in her favorite blanket from home for a few hours.  Well, her dad got caught but the nurse let it slide as long as she hid it under the blankets on her bed.  That blanket was a huge comfort to her during a scary and uncomfortable time, even if it was only for a few hours.  Fast forward about 27 years and Melissa is a new stay at home mom to a six month old baby boy.  She is also new to the Salt Lake area after her husband was transferred for his job.  Melissa was introduced to Project Linus through Kristin.  At first Melissa thought it would be a great way to meet some new people, get out of the house, and volunteer some of her time.  But then she realized that it was much more than that.  After the first day she was hooked and loves how many kids are being comforted by these blankets as they go through difficult and scary times.  Melissa will also help us with our reporting requirements & keep track of all our numbers (a huge help to Kristin!).

 Well,  I guess that leaves me.  I’m Kristin Vance & I love anything crafty & creative!  I still feel new to Utah, but we moved down with my husband’s job almost 6 years ago from Idaho.  I’m go greatful I was introduced to Kathy & Project Linus.  I was seeking something to become involved in & had no idea where it would lead!  I’m a mom to 2 teenage boys & last fall returned to work part time.  I’m still trying to figure out where to keep everything & how to keep it organized, but my husband is quite patient to have blankets around all the time.  I love to crochet & am learning to quilt.  I have to squeeze in time to make personal gifts with all my project linus blanket making, but it’s what I love!

 New email:  slcprojectlinus@gmail.com for Kristin, Melissa or Millie

 “Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be March 5th ... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2.   Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

 The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be march 20th… at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00.  our numbers are growing & we look forward to meeting you!  please come join us!

we have been talking about TAPS blankets.  it’s been tougher this year to find red, white & blue, so keep an eye out!  These blankets are made for children who have lost a parent in service to our country.   We need large (60” x 72”) and medium (45” x 60”) blankets in patriotic colors.  Please – no knitted and crocheted blankets as they are too heavy and don’t travel well.  more information can be found at taps.org & our blankets are made for the children at good grief camp in May,(this is the only time our blankets travel outside of salt lake county).

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County.  Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis. 

Hugs to you all,

Kristin

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com
801-386-5917
 

February newsletter

Jan 27, 2012                                                                       Blankets delivered:    8528

Dear Blanketeers,

This will be the last newsletter I will write to you.   I’ve had the privilege of being the coordinator for both the Project Linus chapter in Cheyenne, WY and again in Salt Lake City.   Starting each chapter and watching them grow has been like raising children: challenging but overwhelmingly gratifying.

You are the most loving group of people I’ve ever been associated with and I’ll be forever grateful I’ve had the chance to be your coordinator for Project Linus. As I’ve told you all along, your generosity, creativity and love for Project Linus has been reflected in the blankets you’ve made.   The thank you notes we’ve received have always expressed just how much the blankets are appreciated by the parents for the comfort the blankets give to their children.    And the children just love them to pieces!  

But after 10 years of being coordinator it’s time to give the reigns of the chapter to Kristin Vance.   She’s been our assistant for the past year and has been more generous with her time, creativity and insight than I would have ever imagined. Working with Kristin will be Millie Martensen and Melissa Thayer as assistant coordinators.    With you helping Kristin, the Salt Lake County chapter will continue to deliver lovingly made blankets to the children in our community in crisis.

With a heartfelt hug,

Kathy

Be sure and check out our blog - slcprojectlinus.blogspot.com.  On the blog you’ll find the current newsletter, updates on blanket donations, instructions for making fleece blankets (great for people who can’t attend Make a Blanket Days and want to make fleece blankets), and do’s and don’ts. 

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be Feb 6 ... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2.   Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

 The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be Feb 21… at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 1:00.  We’re building a nice size group, the ladies are very friendly and welcoming, AND we hope you’ll join us. Please note – we have to be out of the conference room by 1:00 PM

 

In December we received a donation from the Copper Hills 2nd Ward, organized by a lady who's grandson had received a Project Linus blanket. Thank you for the wonderful blankets & to Deanne Pierce for thinking of us!

it’s not too early to begin thinking about TAPS blankets.  These blankets are made for children who have lost a parent in service to our country.   We need large (60” x 72”) and medium (45” x 60”) blankets in patriotic colors.  Please – no knitted and crocheted blankets as they are too heavy and don’t travel well.

We received another thank you note last month:

Dear Mt. Vista Church Ladies,

You’re awesome! Thank you so much for the beautiful blanket!  We recently become foster parents to a 4 month old baby boy.  Originally we were expecting older children, so we were not prepared for a baby.  We had no baby stuff – so the baby blankets really helped us out.  Thanks again for sharing your talents and times with us.  Rebecca

 Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County.  Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis. 

Hugs to you all,

Kathy & Kristin                                     

morrowchey@att.net

801-302-8096

Or

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

801-386-5917

One of our lttlest Blanketeers

In December we received a donation of 33 blankets from the ladies at Copper Hills 2nd ward & I forgot to post this cute picture!  This little blanketeer helped her mom drop off the blankets & she helped make blankets too!  I love her smile, frome ear to ear & had to share.....