Project Linus
About a week ago, my sister-in-law, Chrystal, sent me
an e-mail about a charity that she had found out about. I looked into it and was immediately touched.
I decided that this is something that I can bring to the attention
of other emommies. This is
something that is more than a check in the mail, more than 4 hours spent
working the bake sale at church. Those
things are of course important, doubly so to those whose lives are
touched, but THIS project helps children to feel love, comfort and
security. All things that we
as moms strive to give our own children.
The charity is called Project Linus.
Calling it a charity is probably a misnomer. It’s more a gift of love, freely given, joyously given,
with no thoughts to receipts or tax deductions.
Project Linus began on Christmas Eve in 1995.
It all started when Karen Loucks saw an article in Parade
Magazine entitled 'Joy to the World' by Pulitzer Prize winning
photojournalist, Eddie Adams. Part of the article featured a petite, downy
haired child. She had been going through intensive chemotherapy and stated
that her security blanket helped her get through the treatments.
Karen was understandably touched, and decided to do something about
it. So she made the decision
to provide homemade security blankets to Denver's Rocky Mountain
Children's Cancer Center. With love and compassion, Project Linus
was born.
In less than
6 years, Project Linus has delivered over 300,000 security blankets
to children around the world and has over 250 chapters in the United
States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, England and the Philippines. Originally
the project targeted pediatric cancer patients, but its focus has
broadened to include seriously ill or traumatized children ... children in
need of a big hug.
So, how can
you help? This is the
heartwarming part. You make
the blanket. Your love and
hard work go into creating a blanket that will be clutched in a child’s
arms when she’s in pain, when she’s scared, when she can’t have her
family with her to comfort her. You
sew, quilt, crochet, or knit a blanket that when finished, will be sent to
Project Linus and then on to a seriously ill child.
I encourage
every emommie to get involved. If
you’re creatively impaired as I am, then you can spread the word.
That’s just as important! If
you can sew, or crochet, or quilt, then seriously consider making a
blanket for a needy child. If
you’re a member of a
MommiesClub or other playgroup, consider taking the project idea back to
the group and having Project Linus parties.
Sort of like a quilting party only better!
If you’d
like more information, check out the Project Linus website at http://www.projectlinus.org.
They have listings of the local chapters and contact information
available. They also have the
guidelines for creating the blankets. If you aren’t able to check out the site, then e-mail me
and I’ll put you in touch with Peggy Kane, she’s the leader of a
Project Linus chapter in Pennsylvania.
She’ll help you get in touch with the right person.
Project Linus Wall
(Coming Soon)
