Community wraps Project LInus in support
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In a tremendous show of community support, close to 150 people from Frisco, Little Elm, Prosper, McKinney and surrounding communities attended Make A Blanket Day at the Frisco Public Library. The event was for the Collin/Dallas/Grayson County chapter of Project Linus.Volunteers donated 28 finished handmade blankets, eight were completed during the day, and children colored 106 fabric squares (which will be used to make quilts).“We are so pleased and excited about the response from the community,” said Chapter Coordinator Theresa Costin. “We could not have imagined anything better. There are so many children who need the security of a warm, cuddly blanket. We can never have too many blankets on hand, and Make a Blanket Days are a wonderful way to get communities involved and make people aware of the good work being done by Project Linus. We’re so appreciative of Frisco Public Library’s graciously hosting this event.”The chapter provided fabric, fleece and sewing machines for individuals and families to work on during the Make A Blanket Day at Frisco Public Library. One visitor not only brought finished blankets but also volunteered to organize a monthly daytime meeting to make blankets. Girl Scout troop 886 came by to help, as did members of the Plano and McKinney Quilt Guilds. One mother stopped by to say thank you for the blanket her son received while in the hospital.“The outpouring of support really touched our hearts,” said Kathy Conlon, assistant chapter coordinator. “I think we’ll get more ‘blanketeers,’ and that means we’ll be able to provide comfort to more children.”Project Linus is a national non-profit 100% volunteer organization providing new, handmade, washable blankets to critically ill and/or traumatized children, newborn to 17 years of age. Blankets can be crocheted, knitted, quilted, sewn or hand-tied or finished-edge fleece. Since opening in 2004, the Collin/Dallas/Grayson County chapter has distributed more than 3,000 blankets, but donations are down slightly. “With summer vacations, we have had a lull in the incoming donations, so we are hoping that letting folks know what we do will attract more Blanketeers to join us and keep the blankets coming in,” Costin said. The next Make A Blanket Day will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Plano Sewing Center, 2070 West Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. The store also accepts blanket and fabric donations for Project Linus during regular business hours.“People of all ages – children and adults – can help make blankets,” Costin said. “We have fleece, fabric, batting and yarn available – anyone can use it. We have several tasks, such as sorting and cutting, that don’t require any experience. Or if a person has only a little experience in crocheting, knitting or quilting, our experienced Blanketeers are ready to help them. So even if someone has little or no experience, there are ways they can help us help children.”Area quilt and sewing guilds, scouting troops, church groups and individuals have all donated blankets or supplies to the Collin/Dallas/Grayson Project Linus chapter. Former chapter coordinator Cheryl Vaughn shares this story: “Just a story that touched my heart and helps me to remember why it is that I do this. One of the CASA supervisors whom I work with told me a story about a child that she was working with. He had been taken by CPS to a psychologist’s office for an evaluation. He was so nervous that he was physically trembling and throwing up. On her way out the door, the CASA worker grabbed one of the Project Linus blankets that they keep on hand. When she got to the psychologist’s office, she used the blanket to wrap around him. He began to calm down, to quit shaking, and proceeded to fall asleep. When he awoke, he was much more able to deal with the things that he had to deal with that day. One simple piece of fabric did more to reassure that child than any number of professionals could.”Some of the organizations which have received blankets from Project Linus include CASA of Collin County; CASA of Grayson County; The Samaritan Inn, McKinney; Hope’s Door, Plano; The Crisis Center of Grayson County; City House, Plano; Juvenile Alternatives, Sherman; Sherman Police & Fire Departments; Children’s Medical Center, Dallas; Holy Family School, McKinney; McKinney Fire & Police Departments; Plano Medical Center; Presbyterian Hospital of Plano; Centennial Medical Center of Frisco; Angel Tree Ministries; Camp Fire Boys & Girls Grief Camp; refuges of Hurricane Katrina; victims of the Anna tornado; Medical City Children’s Hospital, Dallas and the Lions Club Kids, McKinney.For more information about the Collin/Dallas/Grayson Project Linus chapter, visit their Web site at www.PLDallas.org .HOW YOU CAN HELP Kid-themed blankets in all sizes are needed. General size guidelines are: small/infant (36x36), medium/toddler to pre-teen (45x60) and large/teenager (63x87). Because these blankets go to critically ill children, all blankets need to come from a smoke-free, pet-free environment. For more details, see the chapter Web site, www.PLDallas.org.Besides finished blankets, the chapter also accepts monetary or gift card donations and donations of new fabric (Flannel, fleece or 100% cotton), yarn (no wool), batting, scissors, two-gallon zipper seal plastic bags, white or gray thread, and sewing and needlework notions.We invite you to join us at one of our monthly meetings, held the second Tuesday of each month at local sewing centers (schedule at www.PLDallas.org ). Attending meetings is not required. Many blanketeers work at home or during breaks at work and then leave their finished blankets at one of the drop off locations: Quilt Asylum, 1705 W. University Dr in McKinney, 972-562-2686; The Sewing Room, 8500 Gaylord Parkway in Frisco, 972-315-1489; Plano Sewing Center, 2070 West Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, 972-527-7400; and Golden D’or Fabric Outlet, 10795 Harry Hines Blvd in Dallas, 214-351-6651.Project Linus blankets are a great Community Service Project for groups, Scouts, churches and schools. Kits and supplies are available for groups (or individuals) to take and make. Blanketeers are also ready to help groups plan their project. For more information about the Collin/Dallas/Grayson Project Linus chapter, contact Theresa Costin, Chapter Coordinator, Tcostin”at”sbcglobal.net
