Kansas City Project Linus
Cass Co. MO, Johnson and Wyandotte Co KS Newsletter

This newsletter may look a little strange to some of you. To those you have not heard, Kansas City now has two separate chapters of Project Linus. If you are receiving this newsletter then you are in the Cass Co. MO, Johnson and Wyandotte Co KS chapter. On March 9, 2009, Patty Gregory returned to Project Linus as the coordinator for this new chapter. This new chapter also has a chapter assistant, she is Kathy Chrisman. For sometime it has been known that our chapter here in KC had grown way too big for one chapter. In early March the decision was made to divide the chapter in to two separate chapters. Susan Brazeal is still coordinator for Jackson, Platte and Clay Co. in Missouri. With Patty and Susan each having 3 counties to manage, it will much easier. Each chapter will operate separate from each other but on occasion we will have events that everyone will want to be apart of and we will keep you advised of these events.

New chapter website
With a new chapter come new things. Our new website for our chapter is: www.orgsites.com/mo/kansascityprojectlinus Please check it out and check it often. I will make changes and post new things from time to time.

Upcoming Event
Kansas City Project Linus, Cass Co MO, Johnson and Wyandotte Co KS, will hold a Blankets for Autism blanket day on June 13, 2009, 9am to 1 pm. It will be 13720 Roe Ave, Leawood KS 66224, in the East building, suite 300.
During this event we will be making weighted blankets for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 1 in 150 children are affected by Autism in the general public and 1 in 88 children military families. Children with Autism have a hard time calming themselves and these blankets have a calming effect on these children. They enable them to sleep thru the night and are used during the day to calm the child.
Things to bring, everyone should bring 1 ¼ yard of child friendly fabric. If you have any of the following you should bring them, sewing machine, basic sewing supplies, iron, and ironing pads and extension cords!
Remember that Autism affects 4 boys to every 1 girl!!! So when purchasing fabric please keep in mind that we will need many more boy blankets than girl blankets. At this time we have a waiting list for these blankets.

This will be the first event for out new chapter and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and teaching you about making these blankets. They are very simple to make and it will be great fun.

If you plan to attend please call Patty at: 816-331-9101 or email her at jgpg2@yahoo.com

Blanket guidelines
As always blanket sizes are approximate! Here are some guidelines of sizes that work for our Chapter.
Premature baby 30 X 30 (we need very few of these)
Baby Blanket 36 X 36
Child and teen 40 X 60

Fleece should measure at least 36 X 45 and be single layer! Double layer fleece is just too heavy for this area.

We have added weighted blankets to the types of blankets we want to receive and if you want a pattern for these blankets please contact Patty at 816-331-9101

Recipients
Our blankets for this chapter go to the following places:
hawnee Mission Medical Center
St. Lukes South
Olathe Medical Center
Harrisonville Hospital
Hope Haven
KU Medical Center
Children Mercy South
If you know of other places that might benefit from our blankets please contact Patty or Kathy.

Drop Off Locations!
Kansas
Harpers Fabric and Quilt Co.
7918 Santa Fe Dr.
Overland Park KS

Missouri Sewing Machine Co
12046 W 95th St
Lenexa KS

Missouri
Patty Gregory
7313 E 158th ST.
Belton MO

Donations and Deliveries
As of April 1st we have already delivered 133 blankets! We received one cash donation and 149 beautiful blankets! Thank you so much for supporting Project Linus. If you donated blankets and your name was in with them you will find your name listed on the donations page on our web site. I will add new names each month and change the page at the end of each quarter.
We also received a $40 cash donation in March. This was wonderful since we are a new chapter we don’t have funds to purchase things like labels so donations are very much welcome.

Fundraising
We are collecting best choice labels to raise some money to purchase labels and pay for newsletters, etc. We need your help. Please cut off the UPC code of all your Best Choice items and get them to us. It takes 1000 labels to get $30 so start saving today.

New Project Linus Fabric
Please talk to your local quilt shops about Komfort by Avelyn fabrics. It is very cute and is designed just for Project Linus. You can see the fabric by going to the National website at www.projectlinus.org Please contact your local quilt shops if you are interested in this fabric as they must order it now in order to get it from Avelyn.

Newletters
As most of you know newsletters can be very expensive to mail out and our funds are limited. We will mail out newsletters to those of you who do not have email. If you have email and receive a newsletter in the mail please, please let us know so we can send your newsletter thru email and save the postage to purchase labels. Newsletters will also be available at our drop off points and local quilt shops. You can expect another newsletter in the fall of 2009.

Blanket NO NO’s
Everyone should know by now but please check your blankets for pins! Please don’t attach notes to your blankets with straight pins, use a safety pin please!
Due to new government regulations no metallic thread may be used in our blankets.
NO double knit fabric, musty fabric or yarn, nothing with strong odors.

A note to our wonderful Blanketeers!
I just want to say thank you for the wonderful support I’ve received in my return to Project Linus. You Blanketeers are the reason Project Linus is a success and I want to Thank each and every one of you for your hard work. If I can help in anyway or you have ideas please contact us!
Patty Gregory 816-331-9101 or jgpg2@yahoo.com
Kathy Chrisman 816-5069 or kchrisman34@sbcglobal.net

Remember our Blankets 4 Autism blanket day June 13th, 2009!
Many parents with children who have Autism will be in attendance as well as coordinators from other chapters of Project Linus! The media is invited and with Autism being such a hot topic we will get some publicity. This may be the biggest, best blanket day yet so don’t miss it! Please come and help us make this day a great success. I promise you’ve never made an easier blanket! RSVP to jgpg2@yahoo.com or 816-331-9101.