Deb Heath, Northeast Indiana Chapter Coordinator for Project Linus, gave a very interesting talk before the Heritage Lions last night. She explained how her non-profit group supplies blankets to hospitals, surgical centers, crisis centers, sleep clinics, the foster care program, and for Adoption Day at the Allen County Courthouse every November. Volunteers all over our area contribute new, handmade, washable, and kid-friendly blankets for this effort. Project Linus volunteers inspect each blanket to insure they are free from smoke, chemical odors or pet hair to prevent harm to the child who is given the blanket.
From the Project Linus website (project linus.org), their 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, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.””
Ms. Heath told how the children, and their new siblings, are allowed to choose their own blankets during the annual Adoption Day at the Allen County Courthouse. Each year some 100-135 blankets are given to the adoptees. At the Grabill Food Bank during Christmas, a blanket is included in each box of food for the children. Parkview Hospital’s Pediatric Care section is another frequent recipient of these blankets. And hospitals in Auburn, Huntington and Angola have received blankets for their young patients.
Last year over 2200 Project Linus blankets were distributed throughout our area, and already over 330 have been placed so far this year. Since the local chapter’s beginning, some 56,000 blankets have helped comfort children in Northern Indiana. Nationwide the 275+ Project Linus chapters have distributed over nine million blankets in the past 20 years. Drop off bins for new blankets are located at JOANN Fabric and Craft on Coldwater Road, Edwards Sewing Center on Rothman Road, and the New Haven City Hall.
After her talk, the Heritage Lions voted to donate $200 to Project Linus to help them gather and distribute these blankets for children needing comfort and love. The Heritage Lions motto is “We Serve” and we welcome anyone who wishes to help their local community to contact a Heritage Lion.
