Thank you to the over 100 women, men and children who joined us on Make-A-Blanket Day. Special thanks to the five members of Kohl's A-Team who spent several hours helping us make blankets. Cathey's provided some of their sewing machines, and Karen Coyne worked the event again this year as the machine sewing expert! For the third year Northminster Church allowed us to hold our event in their facility. CostCo, Fry's, Basha's and Safeway provided the snack foods and bottled water. Door prizes were donated by Cathey's Vac & Sew, Cataling Quilting, Quilters Desert Patch, Best Buy, Quilters Market, Bella Quiltworks, Kiwi Knitters, Grandma's Spinning Wheel, Purl's, Hancock's at 22nd & Wilmot, Cactus Quilts, Quilt Basket, and some of our own volunteers. Volunteer Sandy McLaughlin donated an afghan for a raffle. THANK YOU to each of those we have mentioned, and especially to our hard-working volunteers who worked before, during and after the event. Without them there would be no Make-A-Blanket Day!

Roughly 100 blankets were made at home and given to us the day of the event. We had (again, roughly) 129 quilt sets or fleece blankets were readied in advance; many were finished during the event but many were also taken home for finishing. Of course it takes longer to knit or crochet an afghan, so those will come in after they are finished at home. We also checked out fabric and yarn kits that people will make at home. Bottom line is that, although we don't have an exact number to report, hundreds of children will be comforted as the result of Make-A-Blanket Day 2009.

Thank you so much for your kind donation to our babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We truly appreciate all the time and hard work that you and the other members of Project Linus put into making the blankets. A LOT of love went into each one!

Best Regards, the staff at the NICU of Northwest Medical Center

Project Linus,

Your support of Arizona's Children Association and our family of agencies over this past year allowed us to reach more than 45,000 vulnerable children and families across the state with programs and services that brought hope and changed lives.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, our staff, and the children and families we serve, Thank You!

Fred Chaffee, President and CEO

Editor's Note: An "Exceptional Volunteer Award" plaque was presented to Project Linus a year ago. It stated "In Recognition of your Deep Commitment and Outstanding Devotion to Arizona's Children Association". We were most honored to receive this recognition.

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Dear Ms. Koeller
First of all, congratulations on your new position as Chapter Coordinator! On behalf of The Giving Tree Outreach Program, I want to thank you for your recent donation of blankets. I wanted to personally tell you how much your support means to the many homeless and hungry children and adults in Tucson.

Each year, we continue to advance our mission of helping the homeless and impoverished in Tucson. Through our various programs, such as Project FEED and the Jobs Program, we have seen many lives changed for the better.

Again, please accept our deepest gratitude for your support. Blessings to you and yours.

Sincerely,
Libby Wright
BA, MA, PhD Candidate
Director

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Dear Volunteer:

Our daughter had her tonsils out at Carondolet Foothills Surgery Center last week. She was very upset prior to surgery and the nurse brought her a pink and purple crocheted blanket. Pink and purple are her two favorite colors! The blanket distracted her from her distress long enough for the Verset to kick-in and the experience was much less traumatic than it would have been. She has not let go of the blanket since we brought her home. She sleeps under it day and night.

It was made by Sun City Vistosa Casa Amigas.

Thank you again,
Donna

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Project Linus - Thank You

This morning my little girl had tubes put into her ears at the Carondolet Foothills Surgery Center. When we arrived she was given a new blanket, courtesy of Project Linus. I cannot tell you how happy this made her, and how it took her mind off of what else was going on around her. I happened to have my camera with me and thought you might enjoy a picture of your work in action. Thank you for the blanket and the work that you do; it is much appreciated.

A security blanket is just what a child needs.

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This letter is from Joni Cruver who delivered one of our "Fallen Heroes" blankets:

I was very honored to be at the funeral service on behalf of Project Linus' Fallen Heroes Program. The soldiers came up and thanked us profusely for doing what we do and for being part of such an outstanding program. Since I am a newcomer to Project Linus, I am passing this along to you to share with all of those blanketeers who make this program such a success. I want to thank you for this life-altering experience. I hope, as we all do, we never have to give one of our wonderful quilts away again, but in the event that we do, I will be there to do whatever needs to be done.

Let's keep these men and women in our thoughts and prayers, and may they all return safely to their families.

Love, Joni

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To Project Linus
Dear Friends:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and families of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona, I want to thank you for the donation of blankets for the children staying at the house. We always look forward to your visits, and seeing the originality and thought put into the creation of the blankets. Your thoughtfulness and belief in our mission and your support of the Ronald McDonald House is truly a gift. We thank you for opening your hearts and caring about others.

The children and their families join me in my thanks. We send our best to you.

Sincerely, Matt Hitchcock, House Manager, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Tucson

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Dear Friends at Project Linus,

A heartfelt thank you for the lovely blankets! Lots of times as babies leave the hospital we see them wrapped in your beautiful creations. The fact that moms are using them right away is an indication of how appreciated and valued they are! Your work has brought countless smiles to the faces of our new parents. What a wonderful, generous gift it is that you provide!

Sincerely, Martha Mckibben, Womens' Center, Northwest Medical Center

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Recently our newborn son was hospitalized at the University hospital in Tucson for some heart defects, and during his stay he received a blanket from the Project Linus group. We really appreciate the time and thoughtfulness of the volunteers who give comfort to those during rough times. We especially want to thank Casa Amigas of Sun City Vistoso who made our son's blanket. Beautiful workmanship!

Love, the Bakki's