March Newsletter 2013

February 25, 2013                             Blankets delivered:  10268    

dEAR BLANKETEERS,

As we come to the end of February, I have my fingers crossed that the groundhog is right & we are almost done with winter!  I am so done with winter & ready for some warmer temperatures & sunshine.  Although, I do love the winter season to be snuggled up in a Project Linus blanket crocheting away.  I hope all of you are doing well & able to get out & spend some time with us at upcoming blanket days.  As always, thank you to each of you who make this project possible.  There is now way we could accomplish what we do without each & every one of you!

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be Monday march 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!!

south valley blanket day is cancelled for march...we hope to see you on April 16th!

Women Warriors  

Our Chapter has found a new way to show our appreciation to those who give military service to our country.  We now try to contribute 10 baby blankets a month to the Veteran’s  Hospital Women’s Center, specifically for the new babies of military women.   These women come from many surrounding states for their prenatal care and they – the nurses and each other – give a group baby shower for them every quarter.  We are pleased that our blankets will be part of this wonderful way to give back to our Military!

BLANKETEER SPOTLIGHT!!

blanketeers 2008

This month our spotlight is focused on the original founders of our Salt Lake County Project Linus!   Their names: Kathy Morrow, Carol Holmes, Ellen Silverblatt,  Shirley Geary, and Roma Knuth.   Kathy had originally served as Project Linus coordinator in Cheyenne.  When she moved to Utah, she discovered there was no Linus chapter to join.  So, she organized the ladies, contacted headquarters, and they went to work forming a new chapter. Their mission: “To connect children in need of love and comfort to those talented and generous people who give their love by handmade blankets.”

blanketeers 2013

our founder Kathy, thanks for all you still do!!

 

These "first" ladies shared ideas about where to deliver blankets, how to make them, and they even taught each other to crochet.  Their first delivery was made in January 2007.  Since then, over 10,000 blankets have been delivered to the children of our community.  As they have done for the past 6 years, this north valley core group continues to meet the first Monday of every month at Our Saviours Lutheran Church.  Over the years they have invited dozens of women to join them.

     It is remarkable to remember the early beginnings of the chapter and realize how many children have received a Project Linus blanket.  Thanks to all of those original founders and all of the friends that they have included to build the chapter!

From our beginnings to now, we have grown in fellowship & fulfilled the mission of Project Linus with our kindness.  I'm so glad to be part of such an amazing group!

We receive inquiries on how people can help our project, but they don't have time or opportunity to make blankets.  I recently found out that donating gift cards is a HUGE help to chapters!  The gift cards can be used 100% to purchase supplies for our chapter.  So, if you ever hear about someone wanting to help, but not knowing how a gift card from Walmart, Joann's, Hancocks Fabrics, Fabric Center, The Cotton Shop, Floyd & Lizzies, Quilts, Etc, Hobby Lobby or the Wool Cabin would all be fantastic!  Thank you for your continuing generosity...encourage others to join in!!

Have a fantastic March!! may we see signs of spring & sunshine!

Hugs to you all!

Kristin & Millie

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com
Kristin cell 801-386-5917

February newsletter

January 28, 2013                 Blankets delivered:  10178    

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  or Millie know if you have any questions.

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be Monday february 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 february 12th  at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00.  sorry, no food at the library. please note due to conflicts at the library we are meeting the 2nd tuesday feb & march 12th& back to the 3rd tuesday in april 16th

BLANKETEER SPOTLIGHT

Blanketeer – Barbara Brae has a special motivation for making blankets – BABIES!  Barbara has a special love for babies, and makes a blanket for all the women she knows as their babies arrive.   She didn’t pick up the crochet hook until her daughter, Melissa, taught her how.  Since then she has been making extraordinary receiving blankets that are serious works of art and love.  Each blanket takes her about five hours to crochet.   Before she begins to crochet, she washes the flannel twice.   She is adamant that the finished product should be clean, and very soft.  High thread count is a must, so that it will be durable enough to hold up for hard use and many washings. Her blankets require 45”x 45”of fabric as well as a careful match of colors so that every blanket has a dominant design on one side and a subtle print on the other.  The edging is started with a machine wing-needle using carefully matched thread.  The amazing part is the delicate and artistic edges she crochets.  Her goals for them: “to be beautiful, but also utilitarian” and “to give even a moment of comfort to a child – and a parent.” 

  Thank you Barbara for sharing your time and talents with Project Linus.  We know you are a busy woman, as is a full time Executive Assistant at Centershift Software, as well as a mother of two daughters and grandmother of five boys and girls.

A note from Millie...  delivered 30 blankets to Fisher House in January.  They are so excited about our blankets!  Kay, social worker, told me that one couple got a curious George blanket and then added to the card that Curious George has sent it for their little one.  They put a Curious.George book with it also.  Another person used the blanket on the kids bed like a canopy or tent.  It is working out so well!

We want to extend a HUGE thank you to Melissa Thayer, for being our assistant coordinator this past year.  We have so appreciated her time & talents and getting to know her little boy Landon. We hope she will join us on occasion at a blanket day, but understand that life with a toddler is super busy!  Thank you Melissa for all that you have done to make our chapter run smoothly.  We will miss you dearly!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County.  Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, deliver 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 & Millie

email: slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

Kristin cell 801-386-5917

Kol Ami day of service

We recently received some beautiful fleece blankets made by Kol Ami.  We so appreciate your donation & love the picture showing everyone working away!  Thank you...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865571124/Congregation-Kol-Ami-holds-day-of-service-in-honor-of-Martin-Luther-King-Jr.html

January 2013 newsletter

Jan 1, 2013                                           Blankets delivered: 10011

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.   We have received some beautiful blankets this month as a results of friends & families coming together for Christmas service projects.  Such a great tradition & we appreciate each & every one.

I have exciting news!! We have delivered more than 10,000 blankets since the chapter was started!!  I love this milestone & such an amazing accomplishment!  I'm so happy & excited!  Thank you to each & every one of you who helped make this possible.  We are a very dedicated group & collectively we make a HUGE impact!  As our chapter enters its 7th year, we are very excited to keep moving forward to making a difference in the lives of children, who could use a little extra comfort in a trying time. 

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

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be tuesday, jan 15 at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00.  this monthly meeting may shift to every other month or quarterly.  if you have any input, please email us at: slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

In an effort to keep our blankets local, we need to let you all know that we are shifting our military project to benefit Fisher House.  Fisher House provides a place to stay for injured military personnel seeking treatment at the local VA  sometimes their familes are with them.  The blankets we make (not required to be military prints) are given to them to take back to their children or grandchildren as a gift of support during this time of  healing.  their emblem motto is:  "Helping Military Families".  Millie took a few blankets when she went to visit the facility & we received a thank you card:  "Thank you and the members of your chapter for the wonderful, wonderful blankets that you made for the Fisher House.  Our Guests and volunteers alike still comment on them.  The veteran and military family guests really appreciate being remembered."  Signed by "Friends of the Fisher House"  A  note is enclosed with each blanket that it is a gift for their children.

We know TAPS has been near & dear to many of you, but it wasn't until last year that it became evident that the blankets were not all being given to children & the time, effort and financial support required to ship the blankets was overwhelming.  We are excited that we can have an ongoing place to blankets to be delivered & not just a big push or crazy accumulation of blankets.   This will also save our chapter the costs of shipping blankets out of state & keep them all local.  If you have any additional ideas for donating to our military children, please let us know & we'll see what other options are available.

Pat & Myrna

Blanketeer spotlight!    Myrna Paxton and Pat McGraw – two friends, sometimes mistaken for sisters, who share a passion for Linus Blankets.  In the past year they have made more than 200 blankets for our chapter.   Their work is exceptional!  They are always careful to shop for the finest large pieces of fleece, and they use the softest of yarns.  They find the beautiful patterns by searching and ordering on line, or shopping carefully in the local fabric shops.  They crochet every day!  But, that’s not all these friends do.  Their grand children get a lot of attention and they always treat themselves to “sister time.”  They go to lunch, walk in the park, and bowl regularly.  Their enthusiasm for life and service is an inspiration.  Thank you Myrna and Pat!  

Just a note – we talk a lot about making fleece blankets but we dearly love crocheted and knitted blankets as well as quilts.  So where ever your talents lie we would love to receive your gifts of love.

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. 

Wishing you all the best in 2013!  We hope to see you soon!

Kristin, Millie & Melissa

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

801-386-5917

North Valley blanket day & Christmas luncheon 2012

Bernie tried to hide behind the centerpiece

lunch & some blanket making too!

we can't let Kathy go far, so grateful she's still helping us make blankets!

Shop with a Cop - S. Jordan

The children took their blankets shopping with them.  I love seeing children "hug" their blankets!  Thank you to all the blanketeers who made this project possible.  You each make such a difference in the life of a child!

Shop with a Cop 2012

• 
  Blanketeers, warming hearts and bodies

  South Valley Journal 11/29/2012
  
  By Nathaniel Bingaman
  
  
  
  
  
  Volunteers recently made blankets for Shop with a Cop participants.

“Blanketeers” will take the place of elves for some children this Christmas season.
The South Jordan Police Department has requested 110 blankets to give to children as part of its participation in the annual Shop with a Cop event.
A national nonprofit organization called Project Linus has been asked to make blankets for Shop with a Cop. The mission of the group is to provide homemade blankets for children in need.
Shop with a Cop will take place on Dec. 8. The event partners up a child ages 4 to 8 with a police officer. The cop then escorts the child around a department store to purchase gifts for the participant’s family.  This year, each of the children will also receive their own blanket.
Kristan Vance, coordinator of the Salt Lake County Chapter of Project Linus, said she put her best people, or “Blanketeers” as the blanket makers are called, on the South Jordan project.
“It’s rewarding to get together with others who have a common purpose,” she said.
Volunteers from all over the valley of different ages, genders and beliefs came together to complete this project before Thanksgiving. Groups from the Friday Women’s Fellowship, Country Park Second Ward, the Jordan Parkway Ward, Mountain Vista United Methodist Church, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and many individual South Jordan residents came together to make 110 blankets.
On average, each blanket made by the group cost $10. This year, the Shop with a Cop program donated the money needed for the blankets.  Along with each blanket, the child receives a card with a poem and the name of the person who made their blanket.  Vance said the card stock material used to make those cards was donated anonymously.
Vance is in her third year as coordinator. She loves getting feedback from parents and children and enjoys being able to make a difference to those who receive the blankets.
One of the volunteers explained why she gave of her time and talents to this project.
“You never know where the blanket will go, or the arms it will end up in,” Kathy Morrow, a volunteer who enjoys “Blanketeering” said.

Kristin's corrections....Kristin's one year anniversary as coordinator for our chapter will be February 2013 & I've been involved with Project Linus atleast 3 years (I can't remember when Edrie introduced me to Kathy)  Kathy, our amazing previous coordinator, started the chapter in January 2007, so we will soon celebrate our 6th anniversary & are getting close to 10,000 blankets delivered.  The individual residents who helped with blankets live all over Salt Lake County.