Project Linus Sews Up a Storm To Help Kids

Last fall, I was having trouble thinking of a good holiday gift for my friend Janis.  She lives in the city, has a small apartment and doesn’t keep a lot of “stuff” around. 

However, she is an active volunteer with her church and the homeless shelter that it helps support.  I decided to put together a box of winter gear for the shelter.

A good bargain hunter can find hats and gloves for some pretty great prices, and I crocheted a bunch of scarves.  I am not a particularly crafty person, but I like to have something to do with my hands while watching sports.  So that I don’t throw things at the flat screen.  Scarves I could do.

Christmas came and went, but there was still football. And basketball. And hockey.  What to do with my hands?  I started making blankets for Project Linus. The Project Linus mission is ” …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…”

Our local chapter is large and incredibly active. Last weekend, at a blanket making event, we had collected, tagged and packed around 540 blankets to be distributed to area hospitals and other agencies that help children in crisis. Northbrook Patch was there and Jennifer Fisher posted a very nice piece, including video of the group.

Project Linus is a great volunteer experience for me because I do a lot of the “work” on my own time.  However, there are also enough volunteer events to maintain a great community.

If you are interested in more information on the North and Central Chicagoland Chapter of Project Linus, please visit the website at:

http://projectlinuschicago.webs.com/