MARDEN'S DEMONSTRATION DAYS

Marden's locallyhas invited us to do a quilt block demonstration at:

                       Scarborough - Saturday  February 16 from 10 to 2

                       Sanford - Saturday March 2 from 10 to 2

Please come and stop by.  It's always nice to to be able to say "thank you" to our Blanketeers in person.  Plus, we'll have patterns for a really great block that you can do lots with.  Please join us. 

"The Giving Quilt" by Jennifer Chiaverini

For you readers out there, the latest book in the Elm Creek Quilts Novels is out.  "The Giving Quilt" is a pleasant read about a week devoted at "quilt camp" to making Project Linus quilts.   What a lovely idea. 

BLANKET SIZES NEEDED

Our Current Area Needs

New, handmade and washable quilts, blankets, afghans and fleece blankets in child friendly colors. Often, patterns will decide what age group will receive the blankets. Such as a baby pattern, even if large size, will go to a toddler.

Knit or crochet blankets should be made of washable, non-wool yarn and closely woven so they don't get caught or tangled in hospital equipment.

Suggested sizes:

Small (infants to toddlers) = 36 X 42

Medium to young teens = 40 X 54 - 60

Large (Teens*) = 2 yards or 48 X 65 or larger

*There is always a special need for blankets especially for teens & boys. 

Fleece blankets are very popular as well.   

WABAN PROJECTS

I'm very pleased to announce that we've just given 170 blankets to the Waban Projects in York County.  They work with clients that have development disabilities.  They get their blankets from us in the fall, readying for the winter season. 


Here's a nice note that I received from them:

      Words could never describe how thankful our team is to have you work
      with our clients  The blankets have and will bring smiles to many
      hundreds of faces  This means the WORLD to us.

               With love,  Waban Case Management, Holly, Sarah, Molly, Evan,
                                Janet, Michelle, Nicole and Melissa

A MOTHER'S STORY

My son Jacob recently had to be admitted to Goodall Hospital with appendicitis and subsequent complications.  Jacob is 11 and has significant autism.  He was very frightened.  One of the nurses brought him a Red Sox blanket from Project Linus.  He immediately attached to it as it was soft and he loves the Red Sox. Due to his autism, transitions and new things are very scary/upsetting to him.   It really helped him transition through the next 6 days and went everywhere with him.  It helped him remain calm and has not left his side since.  

 

We can not thank you an Project Linus enough.  It made a very scary time for Jacob so much less scary.  It was very appreciated!!

Donna and Kevin

 

HEARTWARMING THANK YOU

Hi Project Linus,

 

I saw a feature about you on the news and just wanted to add my thanks for the work that you do.  I was a foster parent for 8 years, often taking care of the youngest infants and children who arrived with very little to their name but usually came with a Project Linus blanket - 2 of my adopted kids still have their favorite blankies! Both made by your volunteers. So thanks a million - I couldn't be there for my kids when they were born, but you were!!

 

Alex

 

 

 

THANK YOU NOTE FROM CHILD LIFE SERVICES AT MMC

Many heartfelt thanks for the gorgeous quilts!  Project Linus quilts have made children's hospital stay cozier and more like home.  When a patient sees a product of your quilt on the bed, it makes them smile - They love them and the families are so appreciative, too!

Thank you again for the Project Linus blankets.  It has made such a difference in the hospital stay for the children.      They are gorgeous quilts, too. 

                      Blessings,   Alice Burrower, Child Life Asst. 

COTTON WEEDS & CALICO QUILTERS BLANKET DAY Oct 20

What a great day we had making a newly designed Mystery quilt organized by Heather Harden.  The group had great time choosing fabrics and making choices. 

 

A very special thanks goes to Cotton Weeds who invited us to use their wonderful second floor space.  It was so comfortable and had plenty of room for all of us.  I believe that there were 17 participating.

Thanks goes out to Hannaford which gave us a $100.00 gift card to buy lunch makings and that terrific cake.  It was our 5 year celebration and I wanted us to do something special. 

A big hello to television stations WCSH and WMTW who came and filmed our special day for their respective newscasts.  It's so wonderful for all the Blanketeers and efforts to be recognized.

Great day - I'm happy to be a part.

 

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

I'm so thrilled to announce that we have a contact with DHHS and now there are blankets for the children served by that agency in York and Cumberland County.   I so grateful for the work that those folks do in those difficult situations and am so happy that we can help make their clients lives a little more pleasant. 

Thanks to all of you.

AN UNEXPECTED "THANK YOU'

What a delightful surprise I got the other day. When the mail was delivered, the mailman rang my bell. He said he wanted to say a very special "thank you" to the Project Linus volunteers. His son had recently received a Winnie the Pooh blanket at the Goodall Hospital in Sanford. When he read the card with the blanket, he said "I know that woman - she's on my route!" The family is so appreciative of our kindnesses.     Thanks to all.

FROM SPRING HARBOR STAFF

Many thanks for your generous gift of quilts.  On behalf of the Spring Harbor Hospital staff, One North East, Board of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer Dennis King, I want to express our sincere appreciation for your generosity.  Thank you for your generous support of  Spring Harbor Hospital.


P.S.  Note - Spring Harbor Hospital is the second largest recipient of our blankets.

MORE THANK YOU NOTES FROM SPRING HARBOR

It's always so sweet to receive notes, especially from the children themselves.  Here's my latest. 


A joint card saying WE LOVE THE QUILTS'S from M, J, M, B, C, C and R


Thank-you for the quilt.  Thank-you so much for the quilts their so amazingly awesome. All of us really like the quilts that you guys made.  Thank you for taking the time to make them.  I'm really thankful for what you guys did :)    From K and all the kids there


Thank you (drew a picture of a bed/with quilt, under a window showing the stars & a moon).  From K

DROP-OFF LOCATION IN BATH

For those of you in the Bath/Brunswick area.  You can now deliver your blankets to the Mariner's Quilt Shop on 190 Front Street in Bath.  

We now deliver blankets to Mid-Coast Hospital and Brunswick Human Services.  If you know of an agency that works with children in crisis that could benefit from our program, please send me their information 

Also, please feel free to contact Carole Heaphy at 833-7733 in Harpswell.  She's handling deliveries in that area and needs your support.

My information is 284-5606 or mprovost@maine.rr.com.

Thanks for being a volunteer. 

"Notes from Spring Harbor" Please take the time to read.

Please take the time to read these heartfelt notes from children at Spring Harbor.  The Spring Harbor facility is our second largest recipient site next to Maine Medical Center.  The children are allowed to choose a fleece blanket for their own.  In fact, the facility includes the blanket in their program. 


Thank you for giving me the blanket!  I really appreciate all the work you put in to make all those!  Thanks again Project Linus!              Love, E


Dear Project Linus.  Thank you for the blankets.  It ment a lot to me that someone would care enough to make them!  You are awesome!  Keep up the good work!       M


I just wanted to say thank you for the blanket, Project Linus!  It was really thoughtful and I appreciate it a lot.        Z


Thank you Project Linus for the blankets they keep me warm at night


Dear Project Linus, Thank you for the blanket.  The blanket means a lot to me.  Once again thank you.       Sincerely K


I just wanted to say than you for putting your time and effort into making me and others these wonderful and amazing blankets.  My blanket is very comforting and I love the cool way you put it together.  And how you tie the blankets on the end.  I hope all of the other kids enjoy their blankets to.                  Thanks, E


For the warm and fluffy blankets.  They are so cuddly and did I mention warm!?  I love mine and will cherrish it forever for the hard work that went into it     With (heart) S


I'd like to thank you for thinking of the kids like me at Spring Harbor and making us blankets.  It was very thoughtful of you to spend the time and effort to make them.  I love my new blanket.  I sleep with it every night.     Thank you so much!  A


Thanks Project Linus.  I really appreciate those blankets, their so comfy.  It means a lot really.  It feels great to have someone who cares and goes to such lengths to provide awesome blankets.  Keep up the great work!       Love R


To the person who made my blanket, thank you so much for your hard work making the blanket.  I really like it.               From B


Thank you!  Thank you Project Linus for the great blankets!!  They're very cozy & warm.  A very great thig to cuddle with.  Thaks for thinking of us.      L


Thank chu for da blankets!  Thank you for your kindness and generosity.  Da blankets are so warm and fluffy I could die!  Naw, just kidding!  They are warm and fluffy thought.    So as thanks I will draw the most delicious cake ever.       B


Thank you for the blanket.  The message on it was heart warming  It's nice to know that people I don't even know care.  I smiled and re-read the note on the blanket at least 5 times in the past 2 minutes.  Whenever I'm upset and feeling like the world walks out on me I'll look back at this and be thankful someone does care.  We need more people like you lady's in this world.  I'm bitter and even your message got through to me.  I will forever cherish this blanket and it will forever be with me.  I can't thank you enough for the smiles you have brought me, and will continue to everytime I read the note or look at the blanket.  Thanks again for lighting up my day.  You are great.  K 



The message that this young person is talking about is the poem that we attach to the blankets. 

"Thank you from Trauma Intervention Program"

I wanted to share with you some of the stories shared by TIP volunteers about the blankets that they have gifted folks being assisted during a TIP attended crisis event.

  

Please let the Linus volunteers know how very grateful we are for the amazing work they do to drape love and comfort around the shoulders of those who are facing what could be the worst moment of their lives.

 

The look in the eyes of those who have just been given a blanket is truly heart warming.

 

A woman and her children experienced a very traumatic event and TIP was called in to assist in a safety plan for this woman’s children. As the volunteer was gathering up a few things they would take from their home she saw them shivering, it was warm outside yet these children were in shock and needed to feel safe and comforted. The volunteer had two Linus blankets in her bag and wrapped them up “two by two” with the blankets in the back seat of their mom’s car before they drove off.

The TIP volunteer was called to be with a young child who was waiting for his mom and sibling as they were in surgery. She gave the child a blanket; the child curled up with immediately. When the young child’s aunt and uncle arrived they expressed their gratitude and commented on the visible comfort it was providing.

A house fire resulted in one family loosing all of their belongings, but thankfully all got out safely. The weather was damp and chilly at that time and the three volunteers on the scene all had blankets (some adult size and child size) that they were able to give mothers of an evacuated near by building holding children that were shivering. As the parents stood watching their home in flames, one volunteer stood by them with an umbrella after she had placed a blanket around their shoulders to provide them a sense of safety, comfort and warmth.