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Project Linus Opens New Chapter in Fort Wayne/Northeast, Indiana —
Project Linus, an all-volunteer organization that provides comfort and security to seriously ill and traumatized children through handmade blankets, has created a new chapter in Fort Wayne/Northeast Indiana. Peggy Albertson will serve as the Chapter Coordinator for the area, along with Bernadette Breon, Co-Coordinator. Their volunteer duties will include recruiting “blanketeers” to make the blankets as well as arranging with organizations such as hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, etc. for distribution of these blankets to children. Peggy and Bernadette are responsible for the chapter’s fundraising efforts and expenses. Peggy also serves as the liaison with Project Linus Headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois.
Working at Edward’s Sewing Center, I became involved in the National Make-A-Blanket Day in February, 2004. When I found out there was no local chapter, I was very disappointed. Sitting in church the following day, I started to realize how blessed I am to have healthy children and a happy, healthy granddaughter. I was so grateful that I had not had the need for a security blanket. At that very moment, I received a very strong call from God to start a chapter. Monday morning, I went to the Project Linus website to get information on how to start a chapter. I applied and on April 12, 2004, I received an email that I had been accepted to begin a chapter in this area.
I had met Bernadette at the Home and Garden Show in January and she expressed a desire to become involved in Project Linus. We kept in touch over the next couple of months and when I got the official word to start the chapter, Bernadette immediately offered to be co-coordinator.
Named after the blanket-toting character in Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip, the main purpose of Project Linus has been to provide comfort through handmade security blankets to seriously ill and traumatized children from infants to young adults. The one hundred percent volunteer organization began in December of 1995 by Karen Loucks in Parker, Colorado, after reading an article in Parade Magazine about a little girl who was comforted by a blanket though chemotherapy treatments. Karen recruited some of her friends and began supplying blankets to children at a local cancer care center. From this beginning, Project Linus has grown tremendously to 346 chapters and to date has delivered 944,842 security blankets. There are many opportunities to participate in the success of this project in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. In addition to individuals, churches, social groups, senior centers, clubs such as 4-H, boys and girl scouts; and schools can coordinate projects to make blankets. For more information contact: Peggy Albertson, 260/749-6595 (pegalb@msn.com) or Bernadette Breon, 260/627-8261 (leoquilter@netzero.net
Fabric – kid friendly, 100% cotton, flannel, fleece (fabrics not acceptable are
upholstery, leather, canvas, wool, corduroy)
Batting – cotton, polyester, cotton/poly blends,
Yarn – washable kid friendly colors, soft yarns
Thread – cotton, polyester, all purpose dual duty for hand or machine sewing
Paper – 8-1/2 x 11 suitable for printers
Plain envelopes – letter size
Postage stamps
Gift certificates to fabric stores or general merchandise stores (such as Walmart
I have also met a wonderful lady in New Haven who has already donated 15 crocheted blankets to this chapter. Because she is blind and on a limited income, she is unable to purchase additional yarn. She will crochet and donate as many blankets as I can keep her supplied in yarn. I would love to include her and her story in this article and specifically ask for donated yarn. The most interesting thing about this story is that Doreen has been crocheting blankets for a long time and didn’t know what to do with them. Her boyfriend in North Carolina told her about Project Linus which he had heard about from his friend in California. She got on the Project Linus website to find a local chapter. She got my name and phone number and called me and by way of North Carolina and California she found me, just a couple of miles from her home.
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