Historic Yates Mill Park Blanketeers

A hearty thanks to these "blanketeers" who came to the park to help make no-sew fleece blankets for those in need, as part of our Spirit of Giving program. A total of 16 blankets were cut and assembled, and all will be donated to #ProjectLinus (http://projectlinus.org/   http://projectlinusraleigh.blogspot.com/  at one of the nearby drop off centers. We encourage you to get involved in this same activity at home!

Project Linus has a two-part mission:
First, to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer #blanketeers.
And second, to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Want to participate in programs like this in the beautiful setting of Yates Mill? Check out more information here:

http://www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill

News and Observer article

Want a dose of holiday warmth? Read this special article in the N & O:

http://www.newsobserver.com/living/home-garden/article117965733.html

Thank you, N & O and Betsy Greer for highlighting our wonderful chapter. 

It's a team effort, and we couldn't do it without every one of you blanketmakers!

Here are some more thank you notes that warm our hearts. 
These are from Children's Flight of Hope. CFoH provides air transportation for children to access specialized medical care.  For more information, their website is:  http://www.childrensflightofhope.org/

Happy Thanksgiving!! Children’s Flight of Hope is so thankful for Project Linus’s support of our clients. Below are two notes I received recently.

“The blanket really came in handy on the plane, when sitting in a chair etc.  It was great!” – Holly’s Mom (She recently traveled to New York for Scoliosis surgery)

“Oh my goodness! We got the best care package in the mail today! 

We are so grateful for the flights and then you top it off by sending this!!!

The blanket is beautiful and perfect for the flight. Ben loves the teddy pilot too! You made us so happy today. Thank you for sending us love!” Benjamin’s mom (Benjamin is six and travels to Chicago for Epilepsy)

Special thanks to Melissa and Kim for their care and attention to these blankets!

And here is a photo of our beloved blanketmaker, Hannah (article below):

Along with some of our group that meets in Cary, the Cary Blanketeers. Come join us - the information is on the right side of this page.

A wonderful, heartwarming thank you note:

Good Morning to the best group ever!
My name is Carol and I am known as the Baby Bundles Ambassador at Armed Services YMCA-Ft Bragg and I see each and every day the amazing work every one of the most amazing crafters of the beautiful blankets we see each and every day! I deliver the Baby Bundles which include most often one of the blankets with the special Project Linus label lovingly sewn in one of the corners!
Recently we have been blessed with the most beautiful blankets each one lovingly packed in a ziplock bag signed by "Hannah"aged 92! I believe that she is part of a beautiful group from Cary NC! I was brought to tears! Hannah your work is impeccable and with the most amazing detail!
Yesterday I had the opportunity to deliver one of these blankets to a new Mommy and Daddy at Womack Army Medical Center at Ft Bragg Military Base in North Carolina! We deliver a Baby Bundle to All new babies born here in support of our military families!
I can tell you that this Mommy cried when she realized what she had received!
Hannah you are a star in our minds!
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND TO PROJECT LINUS FOR HELPING THE BABY BUNDLES PROGRAM BRING A WHOLE BUNCH OF LOVE TO OUR AMERICAN HEROES HERE AT FT BRAGG

Check out the article about Project Linus in Walter Magazine!
http://www.waltermagazine.com/spotlight-blanket-buddies/

Spotlight: Blanket buddies

RALEIGH NOW SPOTLIGHTOCTOBER 31, 2016 5:00 AM

Takaaki Iwabu

by Mimi Montgomery

Loveable Linus van Pelt of The Peanuts is never without his security blanket – multi-purposed and well-worn, it’s a reminder of comfort, home, and warmth. Project Linus aims to provide those same feelings with its own blankets, which are handmade by volunteers and distributed to seriously ill, traumatized, or in-need children.

The Missouri-based nonprofit has chapters in all 50 states; the Wake County chapter has donated over 36,000 blankets since its inception in 1996 alone. “The child who receives the blanket will know that someone in their community cares about them, cares enough to make them that blanket and give it to them, just to help them through a difficult time,” says Susie Holmes, chapter coordinator and founder.

Volunteer-made blankets go to children at WakeMed Hospitals, Rex Hospital, Duke Hospital, InterAct, the Make a Wish Foundation, and the Raleigh Rescue Mission, among others. Recently, the group branched out of the Triangle, sending blankets to victims of the West Virginia flooding.

You can pitch in by donating materials or a financial contribution, or by making a blanket of your own (all blankets must be new, handmade, and clean). Local blanket-making groups include the Cary Blanketeers, who meet the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in Cary, and the Greystone Blanketeers, who meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. The chapter also has an annual Make a Blanket Day; it’ll be hosted Feb. 18, 2017 at Temple Beth Or.

Each contribution is a small task when compared to its great impact – a child’s happiness. Linus would be proud.

projectlinusraleigh.blogspot.com

Amazon Users:  AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support Project Linus every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.   
The easiest way to shop at AMAZON SMILE and make sure that your purchase benefits Project Linus is to click through the link on our home page at projectlinus.org  (Go to Donate, then to Amazon Smile). Thank you!

Please come join us for a Sit 'N' Stitch Event sponsored by the NC State School of Design at the Fish Market Gallery benefiting Project Linus of Wake County!

Bring your own materials to sit and stitch blankets with us, or come and drop off your already made blanket 

Saturday, November 5, 2016

10am  to 4pm

133 Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh

Fish Market Student Art Gallery

Event details 

(click "event details")

We will also have a few no-sew fleece tie demonstration opportunities. 

Our chapter received this sweet note from a mom - many thanks to all our blanketmakers who make so many children happy!

I wanted to email a big thank you for being the Raleigh coordinator for Raleigh Project Linus! My twin girls were in Raleigh Rex Special Care Nursery for a little while in July/August 2015 and Project Linus provided each of them of cute fleece blanket with sweet crochet edging.  Of all the blankets they have, these are their absolute favorites and we are pretty sure they wouldn't be able to live without them.  They are extremely attached:) Attached is a picture of them this weekend enjoying their 'Dahs' while sitting on the couch. Thank you again and your effort is much appreciated!

Follow up to WVa delivery for flood victims

Many thanks to your Wake County chapter of Project Linus for gifting all of the blankets, pillowcases, and infant hats to the people of West Virginia. They were delivered into Clendenin, one of the hardest hit towns in the state. We took them to a drop-off location on a street that once had 30 houses on it. Only three homes were left habitable after the flooding. This particular street, as all of the towns hit by flooding, looks like a war zone. The woman who ran the drop-off location did not know we were bringing the blankets, but when we told her they were from Project Linus, she became very excited. She said she knew exactly what the project did, but had only ever heard of them and never seen them in action. She immediately began sorting the donations and telling everyone within hearing distance about Project Linus. We can't explain to you all the devastation of the state. In the time since we dropped off the blankets, the need for housing and bedding has skyrocketed. It's now been almost two months since the flood. Many people are living in tents on air mattresses or still in their molding homes, and those who have moved into new homes are also in need of bedding. Because of the outpouring of love and donations from people like you, they are able to find what they need on the day they need it. Please know that West Virginians don't consider you strangers--you are family. May God bless you for the good works you have done and in the good works you are doing.

Much love and many thanks,

Laura Rymer

Charleston, WV

Helping flood victims

Most of our blankets stay right here in Wake County. However, we had a personal driver to deliver blankets to flood victims in West Virginia, so we jumped at the chance to help. Thank you, Irene and Christina (in the photo). 

Here is the thank you note:

On Saturday we delivered a load of goods to Clendenin, WV, one of the towns most impacted by the record flooding of June 23.  Necessary arrangements had been made in advance for the escort into town.  We pulled up to the distribution center and within seconds there were about 20 individuals around the back of the truck, taking time from their own cleanup, to offload the donated goods.  These words can not adequately express what we experienced there:  They were so appreciative and grateful.  These gruff, dirty, hard-working people commented repeatedly that we had brought really good (=much needed) supplies.  So, on their behalf I thank you all.

 Lisa J. Gatens

Curator of Mammals
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W. Jones St. 

The generosity of our blanketeers made it possible for our chapter to provide 440 blankets to Victory Junction Camp this summer. The camp is for children with serious medical conditions. Thank you all!

-Susie Holmes, coordinator

We are very excited to announce that Great Yarns is a new drop site for Project Linus. Come by and browse some lovely yarn when you drop off your blankets. Great Yarns is located on Wade Avenue and Ridge Road next to Whole Foods at Ridgewood Shopping Center. 

http://www.yarnsetc.com/

Cary Blanketeers update

Six years and 3100 blankets! The Cary Blanketeers recently celebrated their birthday at the Super Asian Buffet. The theme of the party was “Blanket the World” and members were challenged to make a special international blanket. China, England, Holland, South Africa and Japan were just a few of the countries represented. More photos can be found on the group’s Facebook page. Want to join them? Click on Pam's link to the right on this page.

Many thanks to these fantastic young people,  Girl Scout Troop 583, Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes. They made blankets for Project Linus, and included sweet notes on them. Thank you!

Thank you everyone for your generous and quick response to the need for blankets for Camp Hanes. That need is met and the blankets have been delivered. We will still be collecting blankets for Camp Weaver and Victory Junction camp http://victoryjunction.org/ as well as our regular agencies that help children:  Rex, Wake Med and Duke hospitals, Interact (for the children of abused women who are fleeing the abusive situation), Hospice (for their grief group that helps kids who have lost a parent or sibling), Make a Wish Foundation and TAPS, camps for the children of fallen, injured and deployed military personnel from Fort Bragg, as well as the newborns there. Thank you all!
 

Camp Corral blankets needed

Just as an FYI, we are collecting blankets for Camp Corral this summer. Camp Corral is a free summer camp for children of military service members, with priority given to children of wounded, disabled or fallen military service members. 

Campers are ages 8-15, so larger sizes are needed and all blankets are welcomed.

Project Linus will provide 268 blankets to Camp Hanes in King, NC by June 19, and 165 blankets to Camp Weaver in Greensboro on August 7.

We will need volunteers to deliver blankets to Camp Weaver on August 7, as they do not have space to store blankets. If you are interested in helping deliver and hand out blankets at either camp, please contact me using the link to the lower right under Contacts.
Thanks,
Susie 

If you would like to join the group of ladies that meet in Cary to support Project Linus, check out the Cary Blanketeers. Please note that their meeting days have changed, to the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month:

Cary BlanketeersThe 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
The Gathering Place inside
Hope Community Church
821 Buck Jones Road in Raleigh

Event Coordinator:Pam Wilson
Find us on Facebook

This is the latest email from Pat, the coordinator for the Sandhills chapter of Project Linus. Through her, we are able to supply blankets for children of  fallen and deployed soldiers at Fort Bragg. Since Make a Blanket Day, we have delivered 430 blankets to them, which will stock them for some time. Thank you all!

Hi, Susie.  We delivered 230 blankets to the Armed Services
YMCA Monday.  They were thrilled and overwhelmed!  They
have sent emails and communications to entities on base.
Now they are ready to meet the needs of Ft. Bragg.  Thank
goodness storage is not a problem.

Thanks again to you and your volunteers for sharing blankets
with the military children.  Your hard work and generosity
make this Project Linus service possible.  The quilts, flannel
blankets, fleece, knitted and crocheted afghans were beautiful.

Blessings,
Pat

MABD 2016- What an EXTRAORDINARY DAY!

Our 2016 Make a Blanket Day was INCREDIBLE! We had a fabulous attendance from the most dedicated and fun blanketeers! We had over 530 blankets ready to donate to children in need by the end of our event. Thank you to EVERYONE who helped and come to our 2016 MABD!  Thank you to Temple Beth Or Synagogue for donating the space- we love it! For those who crocheted, knitted, make fleece blankets, sewed on labels and poems, orchestrated the raffle, counted and sorted blankets, etc,- Our incredible teamwork helped make this year even better than the last! Timothy and Denise from Wake Med came to see us in action. They shared with us what an impact we make. So whether you sew on one label or 200, make one blanket or 150, every stitch counts and makes a difference in a child's life. Susie Holmes, who started our chapter 20 years ago, shared some heartfelt letters. Again, Thank you.
There are more photos on our Facebook page! Like Us on Facebook!

We had a great turnout!!!

Sewing Organic Knit blankets donated from Spoonflower

Dedicated Blanketeers!!!

HAPPINESS IS A THUMB AND A BLANKET.. "NUF " SAID. 

Now we can make that number 33,630!!!

Katherine is a fabulous quilter!!

EVERY blanket gets a label!

Vickie and Sue make SO MANY blankets and bring extra hugs and smiles to SO MANY children

Janet and Holly are a dynamic duo who make beautiful blankets! Thank you to Holly and Janet for all you do!

We have been volunteering together a long time! 10 year of MABD's!

Our dedicated blanketeers who sew on labels and poems to every blanket that is donated!

Diane is our master sorter of blankets! Thank you Diane!

Timothy and Denise from Wake Med spent some time with us and talked with our Blanketeers. We ARE making a difference!

Project Linus of Wake County is 20 Years Old!! Thank you Susie for starting our chapter! 

Linda B and her granddaughter made the most beautiful fleece blankets!

An incredible group of ladies- a few from Roanoke Rapids that travel every year to spend the day with us!

Our blanketeers from Poplar Springs Christian Church were so much help! 

Nancy M made this quilt- it will bring comfort and smiles to a child who loves super heroes!

Susie Holmes made this wall hanging for our raffle. True talent!

Janet sews on labels, but she also makes tons of blankets for Project Linus!

A photo of two wonderful quilts and 

one special blanketmaker's smile!

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the 

Make a Blanket Day on Saturday, February 27 

from 2 PM to 6 PM at Temple Beth Or. 

Information is below.

Project Linus of Wake County

Make a Blanket Day

Saturday, February 27^th, 2016

2pm to 6pm

Temple Beth Or Synagogue

5315 Creedmoor Road - Raleigh, NC 27612

(near the corner of Millbrook Rd and Creedmoor Rd)

Set up begins at 1pm

Bring your knitting, crochet, sewing machine and supplies or just yourself

and join us in an afternoon of making blankets for children in need!

Some materials will be provided but not guaranteed.  Donations of

yarn, fleece, batting and cotton fabric are always welcome!

Back Again! Our MABD raffle!!!

RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE SOLD FOR $1 EACH OR 6 FOR $5!

If you have an item you would like to donate, please contact

Janet Rapp – janetrapp124@gmail.com

               Spoonflower will have blanket kits with organic knit material

for our blanketeers to take home or to sew that day!

Light refreshments will be available; contributions are appreciated.

If you are or know of a service group that would like to attend this event, have questions or comments, please contact

Deanna Winick: deanna.winick@gmail.com or 919-345-3576

Visit us at http://projectlinusraleigh.blogspot.com/

 

We're now on Facebook! Project Linus – Wake County, NC

A fun day at Marbles on MLK Day for Community Heroes Day!

Marbles Kids Museum asked our chapter for the 2nd year to participate in their community Heroes Day! We had so many museum guests come visit us to make blankets, color in a quilt square and learn about Project Linus! Thanks to Sandy B for helping and all the wonderful young adults from Playworks (play works.org). Spoonflower graciously donated 4 yards of the quilt block designs (144 of them)  and they are ready to made into quilts!  We completed 25 quilts!

Our 2nd Year participating in Marbles Kids Museum Community Heroes Day! 

Busy making masterpieces to make a beautiful quilt!

Our young Community Heroes loved the Spoonflower exhibit!!

Playworks volunteer blanketed helping a Community Hero! 

Our blanket volunteers from Playworks were a great help!

25 blankets completed!

These are going to make a beautiful Quilt!

Thank you Sandy (PL volunteer) for helping today!!!

Justin, a Marbles Board Member, was so dedicated and helped us
make and teach others how make blankets! 

what a great day!