May Newsletter 2021

 Dear Blanketeers,

 

Happy Spring, Happy Mother’s Day, and Happy Sewing,

 

We would like very much to tell you that we have been able to arrange a place to meet at least once a month.  But, that has not been possible at this point.  We think it will be soon.  We will let you know by newsletter as soon as we can arrange it.  We are hoping for June.  

 

At this point OSLC is still closed.  The Riverton Senior Center is open, on a limited basis, and they have not agreed for our blanket makers to use their space at this time. 

 

However – none of that seems to have affected the number of blankets and quilts that you have been making and donating.  Well over 200 each of the months have been submitted.  Every one of them is now in the hands of children in Salt Lake County.

 

                                         Quilts for Kids

“Quilts for Kids” is managed by Bernadette Turner.  She does not use flannel in her blankets as they are donated for use in the hospitals.  Flannel does not survive the industrial washing-  machines in the facilities.  Since our blankets are given as gifts to children who take them home, we do use flannel.  Bernadette has kindly teamed up with our organization and has sent flannel quilts to us for distribution and, also has donated flannel for our blanketeers to use.  Thanks to Jackie Cohen for finding this contact and helping our two organizations to team up for kids.  

 

                    “Thank You” Notes Received   

     Sometimes when we have enough blankets for our promised destination sites we are able to share with those close by but not in SLC.  This time we sent 20 blankets to Children’s Justice Center in Heber City.  This is the note I received.

     

  “Today Rosie Parker delivered three bags of beautiful blankets!  Thank you so much!  We are grateful for these and know that the children really enjoy receiving them at the conclusion of their interviews.  We appreciate your generosity.  Kenna Jones, Director”

 

       Thanks to all of you who create, sew, crochet, and knit the blankets.  Also, thanks to those of you who recut those unacceptable blankets and fix them.  Thanks to you all who sew labels, package blankets, and deliver them to sites all over the valley.  We have a wonderful team.

 

See you soon,

Millie and Patsy

 

 

 

 

 March 2021 Newsletter

Hello Blanketeers, 

                        Thanks to My Sister’s Quilts in Riverton

We would like to give a big thank you to owners of “My Sister’s Quilts” who have been collecting blankets for us for about two years now.  The store on Pasture Road closed at the end of February and they moved to a new location with a new name.  

 

“Forget-Me-Not Quilt Shoppe”- is the new name. New location will be 12652 South 2700 West Ste B, Riverton.  The hours are: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm – Monday through Saturday. The new shop will open Thursday and will continue to collect blankets for us. We wish them success and thank them for their help. 

 

                                               Thank You PL - From Refugee Storehouse 

We continue to donate security blankets to the Refugee Storehouse through Granite School District.  They tell me that the blankets are distributed on the basis of need and they are usually gone in just a few days. 

 

                                                

Riverton Senior Center

Thanks to Jackie Cohen and the Riverton ladies for their serious work.  Jackie Cohen has been doing a “round up” of the blankets created and donated by members of the group.  You can meet them on the 3^rd Friday of each month in the parking lot at the center at 10:30 am. We have recent news that the center has recently opened – but we have not yet heard whether we can resume blanket making there.  Hope so and will keep you posted.  

 

Hopefully the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church blanket day will resume in the near future.  That meeting was always scheduled on the first Monday of each month.  As soon as the church opens up and you are all vaccinated or feel safe to meet together we will be seeing each other again as a working together group. 

 

                        Blanket Making Standards

 If you are new to Project Linus and wish to participate with groups, you are welcome.  If you are thinking of making blankets on your own to submit – please read about our requirements.  We do not distribute fleece blankets with knots tied round the edges.  We do not distribute any blankets that are not gift quality. Our blanket hugs go to children deserving of a blanket of keep sake quality.   

 

If you are not sure what we require of knit, crochet, fleece, or quilts - please call Millie 801-656-9229 or Patsy 435-630-4110, before you begin your project.    

 

                        Big Thanks to Our Volunteers (Blanketeers)                            

Many thanks to all of you volunteers for your continued work throughout the Pandemic.  For now – our numbers look amazing, and we are still serving an average of 230 children a month. Thanks to all of you who work so hard at creating beautiful security blankets as gifts for children in crisis.  

 

See you all soon,

Millie and Patsy

A Fun National PL project

 Dear Blanketers,

       Our Headquarters Office has a project that I thought some of you might want to participate in.

             Called Knit and Crochet Along

                REGISTRATION OPENS 

          SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2021 

                 REGISTRATION LINK:

      www.projectlinus.org    Beginning Feb 27th

Downloadable pattern instructions will be divided into

8 sections to create either a knit or crochet child-sized afghan.

Sections will be revealed each week for 8 weeks

Beginning Saturday March 13, 2021

                      COST:  

        $15.00 donation to Project Linus

for either the crocheted or knitted pattern.

 PLEASE DESIGNATE AS RECIPIENT  

OUR SALT LAKE COUNTY CHAPTER

          Happy Stitching,     Millie

          

   

   

i

February 2021  

Dear Hard-Working Blanketeers,

 

     Working at home has been very successful for our Chapter, thanks to all of you.  You are an amazing group of volunteers and the hand work you produce is outstanding and wonderful quality.

                                        Donations

          Elaine Erikson made a large donation of yarn last month so if you need any colors let me know and I will get them to you.  Remember to let me know when you need fabric to work on and I will get it to you and pick up your finished blankets from outside your house.  

It seems like I need to get some information to those people who read this blog looking for a way to make blankets that we can distribute.  

 

         We are open to donations to buy supplies and fabric.  If you feel you cannot make the acceptable blanket, feel free to donate the piece of fleece and our volunteers will make it.  

 

                                                New Readers to This Blog

 

     l. The blankets we distribute are new, hand-made, quality made, safe and clean and child friendly patterns and fabric. 

     2. We accept quilts, receiving blankets and knit and crochet.

     3. The knit and crochet baby blankets cannot be distributed if the pattern is too open.  It must be close knit so that there are no holes big enough for little fingers to be caught in them.  

We have found that older children do not prefer afghans.  

     4. We do not distribute fleece blankets that have knots tied around the edges (or tied double fleece blankets.) 

     5. We do accept fleece blankets with crochet around the edges.

     6. We do accept fleece fringe blankets made by our pattern which is found right here on this blogsite.  It is a pattern that must be specific

            straight edges, 

            selvage edges removed from both sides, 

            3 inch long & 1& ¼” wide fringes, 

            tiny, tiny, tiny, holes punched for the fringe to be threaded back through

             Should be 1/8” as you cut and when you open it will be ¼”.  

            That is the largest the holes can be.  

            Below is a picture of the fringe fleece we use.  Also below is a picture of a blanket that     will not be distributed to a child.  

 

Not acceptable holes and fringe:

  

Acceptable size holes and fringe

 

 

Here is a picture of the top side of the blanket and the pattern you get if you follow the directions specifically.  Thanks for reading these instructions.

 

  

 

     We really want you to find joy and satisfaction in making security blankets for kids who are in need or who are ill and need comfort.  It is a very satisfying and rewarding activity.  We who distribute your blankets take extreme pleasure in handing beautifully made gifts to children.   

Looking forward to meeting together again soon.  Wishing you all good health.

Sincerely,

 

Millie and Patsy

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 

PL News - Thanksgiving and Christmas 2020

Hello Blanketeers

    Obviously I am a little late on the monthly communication - actually missed November altogether! I am writing you just in time to say Happy Thanksgiving.  And, of course to let you know how much we appreciate your amazing dedication to the project of making and giving security blankets to children.  

     The month of November has been very busy.  Patsy and I have been dropping off supplies to your homes and have been picking up finished blankets from front porches and drop sites. You all have contributed huge numbers of blankets and we were able to deliver to kids -318 so far.
                             Kearns Elementary School Project

                        

Here pictured are Kyndal, Katelan and Madeleine as they are picking up the van load of blankets for the children's project they are planning for every student in their elementary school.  I backed off 6 feet and they took off their masks for the picture.  

Note of Appreciation 

     I received a lovely thank-you note and picture from Karen Pendleton that I wanted to share with you. She received a blanket for her baby and she says:       

    "We were in the hospital longer than expected and the warm blanket Margaret made kept our little guy warm day after day  We are grateful; it's such a beautiful blanket. Thanks you for taking the time; it will be treasured as the blanket from a loving friend" 

                     And Now About Christmas:

    Our usual Christmas celebration and luncheon would ordinarily have been enjoyed own December 7th the first Monday in December.   But...not this year.  Our Saviour's Lutheran Church where we have always  met each month, is still closed.  Also most of us are still staying home and not gathering in groups at the present time.  For most of us it will be the quietest and smallest Christmas celebration in our histories.  

     I urge you to send your Christmas messages to one another.  We all look forward to being able to gather again soon.  In the meantime stay safe, and know that you are appreciated and loved.  

     December is the "month of giving" and our National Headquarters has asked chapters to communicate their need for donations.  You can contact me if you wish to donate.  

   Hugs and good wishes,    Millie and Patsy

     

  October Project Linus News 

Dear Blanketeers, 

      Thanks always for your continuing work

            It seems that volunteers never forget their selfless devotion to children in need, even when times are challenging for us all. 

             Our sincere thanks to all of you who continue to work and produce beautiful hand-made blankets for children.  There are so many of you out there continuing the work.   

And, surprising enough, many have come forward to participate who are anxious to become active in our project. We have many new contributors who have reached us by email and phone.  Patsy and I have sent instructions and patterns and have picked up their blankets at drop off sites.  

            Also, thanks to those of you who contribute money, label, package and deliver blankets.

Special Thanks to Barbara Brae, long time participating blanketeer, for the very generous donation she arranged for, from her employer – Yardi Systems. 

 

            Maybe you need a new T Shirt

      You can order Project Linus T-shirts, women’s style as well as men’s.  The link is here if you want to see them and/order them.  There is also a polo jacket available.  www.projectlinusshop.org    

 

                                        Letters of Thanks

Received a touching letter from Susi who mailed two beautiful crocheted baby blankets from Texas.  She says:  

      “Please accept these in memory of my mother and my sister.  I hope the Children 

       and families who receive these enjoy them for many years to come.”

 

Looking forward to Fall weather

Hugs to all,  Millie and Patsy