Project Linus for Williamson / Travis / Hays Counties, Texas

Join us and make a difference in a child's life.

We meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month (except November & December) and have meetings north in Cedar Park and south in far-south Austin. Check the menu bar on the left side for dates.

Become a Blanketeer!

Project Linus is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization which was started in December 1995 by Karen Loucks in Parker, Colorado. Karen read an article in Parade magazine about a little girl who was comforted by a blanket as she underwent chemotherapy treatments. Having recently learned to crochet, Karen began supplying blankets to the Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center. As she told her friends about her self-appointed task, they offered to help. Over time and assorted growing pains, Project Linus has become a national organization with nearly 400 chapters providing blankets to children in need all across the USA.

The Project Linus Mission Statement

Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission statement, which states:

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

“The best kind of sleep under heaven above, is under a blanket handmade with love...”

In January 2004, Diane Whitehouse visited Austin Sew and Vac in Round Rock to purchase quilting thread. She spotted a brochure from Janome of America promoting the 2004 Project Linus Make-A-Blanket Day (MABD) scheduled for February. Her immediate reaction was “I'd like to continue helping children year ‘round, not just once a year. What better way to make a difference then to give a child a BLANKET FULL Of Hugs?“ She went to the Project Linus national website listed in the brochure looking for the nearest chapter. Finding none in the area, she carefully considered her options, decided to forge ahead, applied for chapter status, and was approved on April 12, 2004.

Much to Diane's delight, after a year, Jean Bishop offered to become her assistant. Since then, Jean's crocheting expertise has helped educate and train others interested in making afghans. Jean developed monthly blanket making sessions in south Austin. These meetings are in addition to the monthly blanket sessions in Cedar Park.

In 2009, our chapter donated over 1,700 blankets to children in need through various community services. The need continues to grow each year and your help would be greatly appreciated!

As of January 2010, Diane resigned as the Chapter Coordinator as she and her husband are leaving the Austin area. Unwilling to let this valuable work stop, Anita Howe, a Blanketeer with the South group, has stepped in and volunteered to continue Diane's work. Jean Bishop still functions as the South Coordinator and Helen Bokman has stepped up to be the North Coordinator.

Blanket Sizes

These sizes are approximate. We remind you that a larger blanket will fit all sizes of children but a small blanket will fit only the smaller ones.

Please include your name, address, or email with your blanket so we will know whom to thank!

Finally, be especially careful about checking for straight pins if used in the construction of your blanket.

Drop-Off Locations

If you can't get to a meeting but have blankets you can contribute, these businesses support Project Linus by collecting blankets for us. Project Linus appreciates the generous assistance of these businesses and hopes you’ll think of them when it comes time to buy something they offer.