Each month, we feature an organization using yarncrafts to help people. This month, we highlight Project Linus, an organization that makes security blankets for children in hospitals, shelters, social security agencies, and more.

Project Linus, which is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, has over 400 chapters and is in every state. As of the end of 2007, over 2.3 million handmade blankets have been donated by local chapters in local communities to children in need of a hug.

On the Lion Brand Charity Connection, there are almost 150 chapters of Project Linus that have registered. (Click here to search for your local chapter.) We also have many stories in our customer gallery and our charity stories collection about Project Linus, in which customers share their passion for this organization and its cause -- bringing comfort to children in times of need.

[Photo courtesy of Judie Agee.]

Judie Agee, one of the many people who has written about Project Linus in our charity story collection and a chapter coordinator for Project Linus, wrote, "Project Linus blankets have a wonderful, positive effect on the children who receive them." (Read Judie's story by clicking here.)

Another, Vanessa Cobb, wrote, "I have discovered there are many, many individuals with huge hearts and the desire to give their time and resources to help a child. I look forward to working with the blanketeers and creating different ways to help the chapter grow, for many years to come." (Read Vanessa's story by clicking here.)

Project Linus accepts blankets for infants to teens. Blankets can be knit, crocheted, quilted, sewn, etc. They should be in child-friendly colors, new, handmade, and washable. To find out more about specific requirements, contact your local chapter.

To find out more, visit the Project Linus website.

• Carol Babbitt: Project Linus National Headquarters
• Lynette Kopetsky: Knitted Blankets -- Project Linus
  
• Sharyn Benedetto: Project Linus
• Eva Sharp: Project Linus Tucson Coordinator