Newsletter

Edition 2 – March 2026 Blankets Donated 34,066

Hugs & Snuggles Newsletter

Please see our website to view all pictures.

Blankets: In February 267 blankets were made and donated by blanketeers and we delivered 124 to children in need at Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center, CIH, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.

Blanket sizes

Approximate Sizes

Baby / Toddler 36x36, 36x40

Grade School 40x45

Teen 45x50, 50x60 or bigger.

WE NEED : We can use anything.

Note from Karen

Hi Everyone:

First let me apologize to anyone who emails me during blanket pick-up weeks. Trying to get all the blankets from the car to the house to the sewing room, labeled, back to car to storage is exhausting. So, I don’t check the mail every day. I will try and do better.

Second – I have no idea what happened to the newsletter last month. A few people were emailing me about March pick-up dates, I had it in my newsletter, but when I try to pull it up in the email, I get just the first portion. Computer gremlins are killing me, I swear. So,I have March only in this newsletter. There are some family things happening in April, so I need to get closer to April to be able to decide when I can do pick-ups.

Third - Let’s talk blanket size. Every month I get at least 4 to 5 people saying, I am not sure you want this one, or these or whatever because they are not 36x36. I am aware that every pattern crochet, knit or quilting works up a little differently. They are not all going to work up to my size dimensions exactly. If it’s close, within a few inches that works. Where I list blanket sizes the first line is Approximate. The problem was I was literally getting squares 18x18 or 20x20. I have no idea what to do with that. If I received about 15 of them, I could sew them into a blanket, but 1 or 2 at time, stumps me. So if it’s close to the listed sizes, I will take it.

Fourth - I was able to purchase some fleece at a decent price for backing blankets. So it will be listed on the website and will sell for 6.10 a yard, with a picture included to show pattern. It will tell you how many yards I have of the fleece for Sale. It is a pilot program that I can purchase the fleece every month, but I have no idea what patterns will be available. We will see how this goes. I do still have some 108in wide backing fabric still for at 6.70 a yard. Email if you wish to purchase.

Lastly - Sleep In Heavenly Peace has offered to have a day where we can tour their workshop and get a better feel for what they do and why our blankets help. If you are interested, email me and that will give me an idea of how many and we can go ahead and arrange it.

Events:

Manlius Library – blanket top day

Our next Sew day is May 16thh 1-4pm at the Manlius library. The library has 5 machines for use (please sign up with them), I have 5 machines (1 spoken for usually). You can always bring your own. I provide kits already cut. We had a great day Saturday the 7th. Lots of blanket tops made, lots of laughs. Make sure to check out pictures of the event on our website (under events) and facebook page.

The Syracuse Maker Faire is May 2nd from 10am to 5pm at the Horticulture Bldg at the New York State Fair Grounds. We will have a booth and being color quilt squares to make blankets. If you have kids or grandkids and nothing to do that weekend, I strongly encourage you check it out. The kids love all the hands on activities.

Blanket Pick Ups: I should be driving the Silver Ford Escape. But just incase the other vehicle is a gold Chevy Equinox.

If you know you cannot be there close to the hour and will be closer to the half hour or 45 minutes – please let me know. If you are at an appointment I will gladly wait. But if I sit there for a half hour and no one shows, I will be leaving.

March Pick-ups:

Fayetteville – Joann’s parking lot – Wednesday March 18th 11am

Preble – Kaleidoscope Quilts – Thursday March 19th - 1pm

Baldwinsville – in Village lot behind the library – Friday March 20th 11am

Clay – Joann’s parking lot - Friday March 27th 11am

BOM – Blanket of the Month - please see our website for pictures under Blanket of the Month page, under the Newsletter tab

Nancy Cannizzaro – Take me out to the Ball Game

Leslie Kraus – Shades of blue

Wendy Masters – Cabana Stripes

Liz Nguyen – Valentine Paws

Karen Eggleston – Forest Friends

Kimberly Sweetser – Cat Sweaters

Judy Fiorni – Popcorn

Zanita Hack – Hopscotch

Cindy Crandall – Animal Cuties

Karen S – Spring Granny

Millie Albringo – Cranberry Fluff

P’s & Q’s of First Presbyterian Church Cortland – Starburst and Dolphins at play

Ruth Norton – Blue Waves

Virginia Collinson – Orange Space

Blanketeers for this month. Thank you to the following Blanketeers for donating blankets .

Anon Millie Albringo Nancy Cannizzaro Virginia Collinson

Cindy Crandall Tammy Dauphin Dee Celeste Dunne

Karen Eggleston Judy Fiorini Zarita Hack Gail Keller

Leslie Kraus Julie Litteer Wendy Masters Beverly Neuman

Kelley Neuman Elizabeth Nguyen Ruth Norton P’s and Q’s Cortland United Presbyterian Church

Karen S Tami Smith Beth Sochan Kimberly Sweetser

Candy Thorp Carol Tytler

Quilt tops, Fleece, Material, Hats, Mittens, Scarf …etc Thank you for quilt tops, pillow cases, fleece, material, hats, mittens ….etc

Leslie Kraus Karen S Rebecca Jeffery Carol Kolodziejski

Beth Sochan Ruth Norton

Our drop off sites: Please check with our drop off sites for current hours of operation. All of our sites are wonderfully supportive of us and we thank them for their support.

When dropping off blankets please put them in a plastic bag with Project Linus on the outside and a note inside with your name.

Baldwinsville Library – 33 E Genesee St, Baldwinsville

Manlius Library – 1 Arkie Albanese Ave , Manlius

Calico Gals – 3906 New Court Ave – Syracuse

Sew What? CNY – 25 Seminary St, Auburn.

Oliver's Originals – 8188 Cazenovia Rd Manlius

Kaleidoscope of Quilts – 6271 Little York Lake Rd – Little York(Cortland County)

The Quilt Shop – 1625 State St Watertown,

Karen Lathrop – 245 Martin St – Syracuse NY

Sponsors:

I want to thank our great sponsors whose dollars help me to buy fabric, muslin, markers and yarn.

Stewarts Dairies

Luv Handlz Frozen Yogurt – James St

For more information on Project Linus contact:

Karen Monnet Lathrop

Project Linus Coordinator

Syracuse / Onondaga/ Oswego County

315-455-2518

kikiquilts564@yahoo.com

or visit our website at http://kikiquilts564.wix.com/projectlinusonondaga

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Edition 1 – February 2026 Blankets Donated 33,820

Hugs & Snuggles Newsletter

Please see our website to view all pictures.

Project Linus Onondaga County NY

Blankets: In January 263 blankets were made and donated by blanketeers and we delivered 122 to children in need at Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Nappi Wellness Center,

Blanket sizes

Approximate Sizes

Baby / Toddler 36x36, 36x40

Grade School 40x45

Teen 45x50, 50x60 or bigger.

WE NEED : We can use teen boy and girl and grade school boy.

Note from Karen

Hi Everyone:

It is a new year so let us review. Please do not leave pins in your blankets, just fold a note in your blanket or use tape. If you use Downy unstoppables or Tide when washing – please don’t wash your blankets. The scent of those things can trigger horrendous asthma attacks. Please no smoking while working on blankets and do not let your pets use the blankets as a bed before donating them. If you have trouble binding your blankets, please feel free to reach out to me. We can have a meeting where we help to teach binding or we can have another blanketeer finish your blanket. If you do not include a note in your blanket bag of your name and contact information I will not know you made the blankets. If you have been donating to me for a while, just put your name, unless your contact information has changed. I have a lot of people thinking that just because we meet in person at a pick-up site, that I will remember which bag is yours. (HA,HA). You people have more faith in me than I do. I had over 221 blankets on my porch this month. That doesn’t include what one of the volunteers had at her house. By the time I reached the bottom of the pile I did not know my own name. So please put names in the bags. Thank you.

I know I am one of the most hated women in Syracuse right now, but I have been loving the snow and cold. Most of my friends see me and say “Happy Yet?” almost. I know it’s strange to love this weather. I just hate heat. I can put more on to stay warm. I can only take so much off to cool down, and not get arrested. My Mom loved snow. Neighbors out shoveling would often ask her, “Did you ask for this snow Peg?’ Yup, she did. She was happiest looking out the window watching the really big snowflakes fall. I am happy to carry on the tradition. For those not happy, by the end of this month it will start at least staying above 25-30 degrees. So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Now for our really big news. They didn’t tell me I had to keep it a secret, so I am spilling the beans. April 17th, Project Linus Onondaga Co NY will receive the Bill Towsley Award at the McMahon Ryan Advocacy Pinwheel Ball. It is a huge honor and given to those who consistently help McMahon Ryan in their mission to help children of abuse. We have over the last 8 years been their biggest donor of blankets. Each child receives a Teddy Bear and a Blanket to help them feel comfortable and relaxed enough to talk about things no child should ever have to discuss. I knew about McMahon Ryan, before I knew about Project Linus. When I was working, I had dealings with them, and when I took over the chapter, I used to deliver blankets to them while on Duty. What they do to help children of abuse is so very important, and I am so happy that we can offer comfort to those children just by giving them a blanket. So, I will do my best to represent all of you and our chapter at the upcoming event. They said I do not have to give a speech. YAY!!!! I will post pictures after on our website, so you can all see me in black tie event dress. It doesn’t happen often.

You can read more about the event at the link below.

The Pinwheel Ball | McMahon Ryan

Reading back over the last 3 paragraphs, I have noticed I use so quite a bit. Time to get out the thesaurus and look for other words, Therefore, Alas, Now. LOL. Yes, I really do have better things to do.

Events:

Manlius Library – blanket top day

Our next Sew day is March 7th 1-4pm at the Manlius library. The library has 5 machines for use (please sign up with them), I have 5 machines (1 spoken for usually). You can always bring your own. I provide kits already cut. I am concentrating on teen boy kits for the March sewing day.

National Blanket Day

February 21st, is National Make a Blanket Day. Our chapter has no formal blanket day scheduled. We do the sewing days at Manlius every other month and that has been generating great blanket tops to help us bridge our gaps in numbers coming in and numbers going out. February is a hard month to plan a blanket making day when you live next door to Lake Ontario. Like the last couple of snow events last month, most public buildings were shut down. We would love to see you at one of our sewing day. You don’t have to sew, bring your crochet/knit and just sit and get in on the gab session. It’s lots of fun.

Blanket Pick Ups: I should be driving the Silver Ford Escape. But just incase the other vehicle is a gold Chevy Equinox.

February Pick-ups:

Fayetteville – Joann’s parking lot – Wednesday February18th 11am

Clay – Joann’s parking lot - Friday February 20th 11am

Preble – Kaleidoscope Quilts – Thursday February 26th 1pm

Baldwinsville – in Village lot behind the library – Friday February 27th 11am

March Pick-ups:

Fayetteville – Joann’s parking lot – Wednesday March 18th 11am

Preble – Kaleidoscope Quilts – Thursday March 19th - 1pm

Baldwinsville – in Village lot behind the library – Friday March 20th 11am

Clay – Joann’s parking lot - Friday March 27th 11am

BOM – Blanket of the Month - please see our website for pictures under Blanket of the Month page, under the Newsletter tab

With the over 200 blankets on my porch in a huge pile, I decided to make life easy and not do BOM pictures. One of my assistants submitted pictures from her pickups. We will try and get back to our regularly scheduled picture taking this month.

Cheryl Grom – Shades of purple

Beth Sochan – Puppy power

Blanketeers for this month. Thank you to the following Blanketeers for donating blankets .

Anon Bonnie Blake Cindy Crandall Deb Duvall

Yvonne Fenster Gail Keller Elizabeth Neuyen Peg Nodell

Ruth Norton Karen S Karen Schneider Faith Stopyro

Nikhil Suryadevara Kimberly Sweetser Karen Waelder Manlius Sew Group

Cheryl Huffman Merinda Brown Beth Sochan Cheryl Grom

Julie Litteer