Chapter Coordinator – Julia Sullivan

Mailing Address - 64 Shelley Ct. Middletown, NY 10941 Phone - 845-692-2536

Website - www.orgsites.com/ny/projectlinusocny

Email - projectlinus@hvc.rr.com

Monthly Meetings 10AM to Noon 3^rd Saturday of the month

at the Town of Wallkill Community Center – Route 211 Middletown

BLANKETS DELIVERED As of 6/30/2004 – 4,892

BLANKET MAKING DAY - OCTOBER 16, 2004

Our blankets days have been "sew" successful that we have added a blanket-making day in October.

Town of Wallkill Community Center

Please stop by between 10am to 3pm No experience needed!
There's a job for everyone to do. Come and join in the fun.

What to bring: Any finished blankets, fabric, scissors, sewing or quilting supplies and tools. Your "easy to carry" sewing machine. We will be finishing up blankets. Sewing isn't the only job! We will need lots of help ironing, cutting, pinning and tying square knots. Bring a lunch if you wish.

Pre-teens and up are encouraged to come and participate. Students are eligible for community service hours by participating at these events.

The young at heart of all ages are invited to share their knowledge, skills, time and energy to make a blanket for a child in need of a hug. Sewing Machines, material, & yarn will be available to make blankets on site.

Instructions in various skills will be offered.

PROJECT LINUS - DID YOU KNOW?

The 5,000th BLANKET will be delivered in July !!

NATIONWIDE OVER 1 MILLION that’s right

1,000,000 BLANKETS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED!

National Conference

A word from the Chapter Coordinator regarding the National Conference of Project Linus which was held in Bloomington, IL from June 24^th to June 27^th. There were 86 attendees from 26 states who attended the conference. While there we celebrated the announcement that Project Linus had delivered its 1,000,000 blanket! During the conference, I was able to attend classes. I made a tote bag for which I have brought back a kit to be used as a door prize at our October blanket-making day. I learned how to sew a ¢Six-hour quilt¢ and how to tie quilts without doing a knot. All of these instructions will be available on blanket making day.

Kids Helping Kids

This program has started in the Woodbury and Greenwood Lake Libraries this summer with the Summer Reading Program. The Project Linus film was shown and muslin squares were delivered. A quilt made from muslin squares is on display at each library as a reference of what the muslin squares will look like when made into a quilt. During the reading program, children who participate will be coloring the squares and receive a pamphlet telling about the program that they participated in. The squares will be returned to Project Linus and quilts made. Each library will have a quilt returned to them for display for a time, which was made from their squares in order for the children to see the finished quilt.

Kids Helping Kids is a program that any group can help. Church groups, schools and scouts have participated. We provide squares of muslin for pictures to be drawn on them & colored and then ironed. All we ask is that you help us by purchasing muslin to replace our supply. After the squares are colored and ironed they are ready to be placed in a blanket. We package the squares into kits that our volunteers can then turn into blankets. Either way a child receives a much-needed blanket. Do you belong to a group that would like to participate or can you help by turning these wonderful blocks into a blanket?? Please contact the chapter coordinator.

Project Linus Quilt Patterns

are still available from QuiltersWarehouse via the internet at www.quilterswarehouse.com

When you purchase Project Linus patterns for $10 each pattern, 100% of the proceeds

go to Project Linus and you can designate the Orange County chapter.

Thank You – On a Personal Note

There are many grateful children and families across the country who wants you to know how much your blanket meant to them and to their child during a difficult time. Even if your blanket is not specifically mentioned, these notes are intended for all of our blanketeers.

© Thank you for the blankets. It is a great start for me and my baby. My blanket is beautifully made. This class is an excellent class and thank you for donating to it.

© Thank you very much for the knitted baby blanket. I know my son will love it very much it’s beautiful. Thanks for taking the time on making blankets for people y0ou don’t even know. It’s a nice thing and you are appreciated very much.

© I was never familiar with your program but boy did it make my kids feel special! God bless you all & keep making people happy!

© On behalf of my son, we want to than you for the beautiful blanket you made for him. Winnie the Pooh is one of his favorites & he loved the blanket as soon as it was out of the bag. He has been using it to sleep with every night since he received it. We are very grateful for the time & love you put into making it…. Many thanks again to you for your wonderful work & to Project Linus – a terrific organization.

© Thank you so much for the time & love that you have put into every¢comforter¢you’ve created. Our families will be thrilled to receive their “Down Comforter” packets with a soft “friend” to accompany it. Your kindness is truly appreciated. Sincerely, Down Syndrome Association of the Hudson Valley

© Thanks again for getting us all the Project Linus patches, coming to our “Blanket Brigade”, and just be so supportive of our Silver Award Project”- Goshen Girl Scout Troop 165

© Thanks for the lovely blankets. Your commitment to the children of our community is deeply appreciated. CASA

Blanket Specifications

This is an on-going project do not feel pressured or guilty to meet any deadline.
A tag is sewn into each blanket

" Made With Tender Loving Care for Project Linus".

Suitable Materials: 100% cotton fabric, flannel, polar fleece, or acrylic yarn. Made in infant, child or teen friendly colors. Remember that these blankets should be colorful, cheerful, and cuddly.

SIZES

(please, none smaller than these sizes - measurements are approximate)

#36" X 36" #40" x 60" #60" x 72

Teen-sized blankets - should be at least 2 yards in length and since polar fleece is 50" wide, a 2-yard piece of fleece makes a nice blanket for a teenager. Remember that a big blanket will fit all sizes of kids; a small blanket will fit only the little kids. Blankets of any size will be accepted, because kids come in all different sizes!

v Make blankets out of tapestry, upholstery fabric, burlap, felt, vinyl, wool, wool yarn, or any other scratch fabrics or laces. Also, please do not donate these materials, we just cannot use them.

v Attach buttons or similar decorative items to a blanket. They can be a choking hazard to children.

v Use paint to decorate a blanket.

©Please Note . . . Blankets that smell of smoke or strong chemicals (including perfumed fabric softeners) or have pet hair on them are not acceptable as they may produce a severe allergic reaction in the children. Unfortunately, washing these blankets does not always remove the problem.

Mission Statement

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission.

First, it is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth & comfort to children, who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need, through the gifts of new, homemade, washable blankets & afghans, lovingly crafted by volunteer "blanketeers".

Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding & fun service opportunity for interested individuals & groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Ways You Can Help