Newsletter

March 2024 Blankets Donated 29827

Hugs & Snuggles Newsletter

Please see our website to view all pictures.

http://kikiquilts564.wix.com/projectlinusonondaga

Blankets:

In March blanketeers made 255 blankets. We distributed 182 to Access CNY, Kara Foundation, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center and Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Which means for the first quarter, blanketeers made 713 blankets and we donated 463 to children in need of a HUG.

Blanket sizes

Approximate Sizes

Baby / Toddler 36x36, 36x40

Grade School 40x45

Teen 45x50, 50x60 or bigger.

WE NEED : Grade School / Teen Boy and Baby

Note from Karen

Hi Everyone:

Oh My Goodness. What a month. We adopted a puppy. I tried to introduce Brandy to older dogs, wanting to adopt one and give it a Furever Home. She was having none of it. So, then I went to East Coast Rescue. They rescue puppies from kill shelters in the south and foster them until people adopt. Well one Foster Mom had a couple different puppies so, I made arrangements to go look. Dad, Brandy and I took a drive to Utica and we brought home Sam. Sam is a shepherd mix 12 week old puppy, and we are house training. UGH!!!!! But Dad and Brandy are very happy with the new little guy. You can see pictures of him on the website, in the beginning of the blanket of the month pictures.

As coordinator there are times, I hear from people who have received a blanket from us. Some of those communications are a simple Thank you. Some are times and stories I carry in my memory bank, they touched me that deeply. A letter I received a year into being the coordinator from a Mom whose little boy had loved our blanket so much, she stole it while he slept to wash it. It was the only thing that brought her comfort when he passed. How I had to send a blanketeer and her husband to Camp Erin with blankets because I was laid up. They were allowed to distribute blankets and her husband couldn’t get over the looks and actions of the kids upon getting their blanket. They would hold it just like Linus. A young woman writing a thank you to me years after receiving her blanket in Abuse Counseling. It had moved every where with her, it still made her feel safe. A woman coming up to me at the fair, saying she had dropped her son off at college and he took the blanket he received in grief counseling for the loss of his brother. She could not believe he took the blanket to college with him, unashamed of needing it or wanting it to be there.

I was reminded of how much good we do this week when a blanketeer’s granddaughter received a blanket. I hope all of you understand what we do MATTERS. It is so much more than a blanket. Especially in this current world we live in. To some this is the first blanket they don’t have to share with a sibling because we have given all the kids in the family a blanket to keep warm. To some it is something to hold while they speak about stuff no kid should have to discuss. To some it is an extra blanket to go with the new bed from Sleep in Heavenly Peace. To some it is comfort in remembering someone they lost and to others it is the love and the hug they need to face the next round of tests and find out what treatment will entail. Every blanket, every crochet hook, every needle, thread and fiber matters. I wouldn’t have these memories without your blankets. More importantly many, many kids would not have the comfort they know without your blankets. THANK YOU, FROM ALL OF US.

Upcoming events:.

April 20th Project Linus is having a sewing day the Manlius Library. They have 5 sewing machines that have just been sitting around. So I volunteered to host a simple quilt top sewing day. I have a bunch of kits set up to let the participants sew together to make a blanket top. We are listing this as a beginning sewing class. The date is April 20th from 1pm-4pm. If there are any blanketeers who would like to help, just incase I do get 5 people who know nothing of sewing, that would be a help.

May 4th we will be at the Maker Faire at the Horticulture Building at the State Fair Grounds. This is another day where we do coloring square blankets. Last year we made 7 blanket tops that day, and about 3 or 4 more at home. The kids love the coloring blocks. I am loving that we are at the Fair Grounds instead of the college we were at last year. If anyone wants to help pass out squares to the kids and wipe off markers, or even sew we will be there May 4th from 10am-4pm.

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

Pick-up date website page : Blanket pick up dates | projectlinusonondaga (kikiquilts564.wixsite.com)

Pick up dates for April are:

Cortland Joann’s – Wednesday April 17th at 12:noon

Fayetteville Joann’s – Friday April 19th at 11am

Baldwinsville Library –Wednesday April 24th at 11am

Clay Joann’s – Friday April 26th at 11am

Pick up dates for May are:

Baldwinsville Library – Wednesday May 22nd 11am

Fayetteville Joann’s – Friday May 24th at 11am

Cortland Joann’s – Thursday May 30th at 12 noon

Clay Joann’s – Friday May 31st at 11am

Blanket of the month: This month's honorees are : Please see the photo gallery on the website for pictures.

http://kikiquilts564.wixsite.com/projectlinusonondaga/grid

Jane Guiles (top) Yvonne Fenster (cutting) Deb Duvaul (quilting) Dora - what is not to love about Dora - Dragon Flies - such a calming print .

Deb Duvaul – Dino Creatures - Love dinosaur prints – they are great for grade school and teen , I-81 this quilt made me think of the nightmare I-81 is turning into. But it’s a great quilt. (I had obviously been doing too much driving this day. Ha, Ha)

Beverly Neuman – Purple Rain - I love the purple stripes

Kelley Neuman – Patriot Stripe - Love the red/white/blue

Tami Smith - Easter Eggs and Sea Glass - My Dad loves looking at Tami’s crochet. It brings back memories of my Mom for him.

Anon – Seashell - the color and pattern made me think of the beach , Aran Waves - there is something about a white/crème crochet blanket that says – pot of tea (coffee) and a good book. Daisy Fleece – I love when I get a fleece print that is different.

Susan Holloway - Chevron - I love ripples and chevrons

David Hauser - Giraffes - I love this pattern. So much talent. I will never be this good.

Inter Faith Works Linda Gainer – Baby Dinos - so cute , B.K. – Seals - again a different fleece

Susan Lewis - Multi Stitch / Color - love the plethora of color and different stitches. ((Doubly love when I can use a big word.. plethora))

Miriam Palmer - Orange Squared - the picture does not do justice to the lovely color of this blanket.

Gail Reninger – Checkerboard & Red - Love the combination of colors

Judy Fiorini – Hills & Valley – the brown hills and the green valley

Karen Waelder – Rows of Neutral - Love the fact the colors are so neutral

Ruth Bryan – Red White Blue Arrows – great colors for a teen blanket

Mary Duffy – Yellow Brick Road – love how the yellow makes a path thru the purple

Kimberly Sweetser – Spring Colors - love the box effect

Karen Crème – Gradient – such a nice calm blanket

Virginia Collison - Pick Up Sticks - first thing that came to mind when looking at the white squares, Spring Training – Baseball season is here

Bonnie Blake – Spring Green – the green in this is so charming

Claire Ganette – Nascar - I am all about anything race themed

Jean Raitio – Easter Eggs - the colors just made me think of eggs

Linda Smallwood – Cotton Candy – this blanket was as soft and squishy and cotton candy

Karen S – Sunshine bright - such a great color combination

Rebecca Jeffery – Sparkle and Purple Day dreams. I don’t even want to think about the amount of cutting in these two, but the results are tremendous.

Beth Sochan – Camping season. I choose to believe warm weather and camping season are coming.

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

Anon Bonnie Blake Steve Brazina Ruth Bryan

Virginia Collinson Karen Crème Mary Dufrfy Deb Duvaul

Judy Fiorini Claire Ganette Jane Guiles Yvonee Fenster

Susan Holloway Inter Faith Works, Sue Rao, Linda Gainer, B.K.

Rebecca Jeffery Gail Keller Valerie Knoop Susan Lewis

Julie Litteer Diane Longe Elizabeth McGuire Lori Miller

Beverly Neuman Kelley Neuman Ruth Norton Miriam Palmer

Gail Renninger Karen S Linda Smallwood Tami Smith

Beth Sochan Kimberly Sweetser Karen Waelder Debbie Waite

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

Calico Gals – 3906 New Court Ave – Syracuse

Joann Fabrics – Fayetteville, Clay, Watertown, Cortland

Finger Lakes Fabrics 1400 Genesee St Skaneateles

Oliver's Originals – 8188 Cazenovia Rd Manlius

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

Karen Lathrop – 245 Martin St – Syracuse NY

Thank you to our sponsors

and Stewart's Shops

For more information on Project Linus contact:

www.projectlinus.org or