Amother thank you

This Chapter supplies blankets to several facilities where
abused/neglected children are interviewed, examined, forensic evidence
gathered and counseling provided. This week, a note arrived from one of
those locations that I'd like to share with everyone:

"Dear Project Linus,

"Hello! I can't express my thanks and appreciation to you and the work
you do. The looks and squeals from the children when they are told they
can choose and keep a blanket is AMAZING! It greatly brightens the day
of a child who has been abused or neglected. The "fuzzy" blankets have
been a big hit. It often takes the children a long time to choose
between all of the shapes, sizes, patterns, designs, and colors, but
when they finally choose, that blanket is instantly theirs!!

"I had a mom call me and tell me that even though her daughter had a
difficult interview discussing how she had been touched
inappropriately - all she could talk about was her blanket! The mom said
her daughter hangs the blanket on her door during the day and sleeps
with the blanket at night. The mom also said she tried to cut the tag
off the blanket and her daughter told her not to, as the blanket was
"perfect" the way it was! :-) I couldn't agree more.

"The blankets often return a sense of security to these children and
give them something they can call their own. That feeling the children
receive can't be replaced. Thank you SO much for the work you do to
brighten the lives of children who need it so desperately.

"Thank you! Thank you!

"Kindest regards, ....
The Child Protection Team"


(A word of interpretation: I think the tag mentioned is not a PL label,
but rather a paper hang tag identifying this chapter of PL as the source
of the blanket. The fuzzy blankets are fleece.)


This is from another chapter. Dolores

CHECK IT OUT

Check out our webpage and see all the pictures taken at the last meeting. Thank you Claudia for all your work.

Thank you notes received

I wanted to share this thank you note we received at Headquarters. It's
meant for all of you and your blanketeers! Please pass it along!

Dear Project Linus,

My son and I wanted to thank you so much for a blanket given to him by his
school guidance counselor.

Just days before this school year started, his aunt, who had long been
suffering from cancer, passed away.

It was a difficult start to the school year, the children in the family
often being lost in the shuffle of funeral arrangements, beginning-of-school
meetings, and the like. My son has difficulties at school anyways, and all of
the hubbub served to increase his anxiety about a new school year.

On several different occasions, something happened at school to remind him
of his aunt's death, and as his Hospice Counselor has suggested, the fact that
I am ill (though not terminally so) worries him greatly. Combine that with
worry about his youngest cousin, and this very sensitive little guy found
himself overwhelmed by emotion.

He went to the school library one day and asked for help in finding books
about cancer. He began to cry, remembering his aunt. A teacher took him to the
guidance counselor, who talked to him about cancer, and who gave him one of
your wonderful blankets, backed with soft, cuddly green fleece (his favorite
color, no less). Special permission was granted for him to carry the blanket
to school every day in his backpack.

The blanket also comes home with him every day, and he sleeps with it every
night now. (I might add it's a nice change from his "baby" blanket left over
from pre-school days :-)

I can't tell you the comfort your blanket has given my son during a very
difficult time. He feels so special not only that he was given such a warm,
fuzzy, feel-good thing, but that someone unknown to him cares about children
enough to have made the blanket. He's so proud of his blanket!

When he first brought the blanket home and I found the tag on it, I myself
got a little teary-eyed. I found your website - somehow I had never heard of
your organization before - and then I had a really good cry reading about
all of the projects going on, and the letters from others about your blankets.
Recent world events, and personal ones, have made me question the very
nature of humanity lately. The gift of one of your blankets to my son has helped
to restore my faith in the goodness of human nature.

I hope ever blanketeer realizes it is never "just a blanket". The comfort
you have provided in a time of sorrow will not be forgotten.

With heartfelt thanks,
a mom and son


Mary C. Balagna
Project Linus National Vice-president
Central IL Chapter Coordinator

Thank you note from Nartional

I wanted to share this thank you note we received at Headquarters. It's
meant for all of you and your blanketeers! Please pass it along!

Dear Project Linus,

My son and I wanted to thank you so much for a blanket given to him by his
school guidance counselor.

Just days before this school year started, his aunt, who had long been
suffering from cancer, passed away.

It was a difficult start to the school year, the children in the family
often being lost in the shuffle of funeral arrangements, beginning-of-school
meetings, and the like. My son has difficulties at school anyways, and all of
the hubbub served to increase his anxiety about a new school year.

On several different occasions, something happened at school to remind him
of his aunt's death, and as his Hospice Counselor has suggested, the fact that
I am ill (though not terminally so) worries him greatly. Combine that with
worry about his youngest cousin, and this very sensitive little guy found
himself overwhelmed by emotion.

He went to the school library one day and asked for help in finding books
about cancer. He began to cry, remembering his aunt. A teacher took him to the
guidance counselor, who talked to him about cancer, and who gave him one of
your wonderful blankets, backed with soft, cuddly green fleece (his favorite
color, no less). Special permission was granted for him to carry the blanket
to school every day in his backpack.

The blanket also comes home with him every day, and he sleeps with it every
night now. (I might add it's a nice change from his "baby" blanket left over
from pre-school days :-)

I can't tell you the comfort your blanket has given my son during a very
difficult time. He feels so special not only that he was given such a warm,
fuzzy, feel-good thing, but that someone unknown to him cares about children
enough to have made the blanket. He's so proud of his blanket!

When he first brought the blanket home and I found the tag on it, I myself
got a little teary-eyed. I found your website - somehow I had never heard of
your organization before - and then I had a really good cry reading about
all of the projects going on, and the letters from others about your blankets.
Recent world events, and personal ones, have made me question the very
nature of humanity lately. The gift of one of your blankets to my son has helped
to restore my faith in the goodness of human nature.

I hope ever blanketeer realizes it is never "just a blanket". The comfort
you have provided in a time of sorrow will not be forgotten.

With heartfelt thanks,
a mom and son


Mary C. Balagna
Project Linus National Vice-president
Central IL Chapter Coordinator

THANK YOU FROM SAN JOSE FAMILY SHELTER

"Thank you so much for doing what you do! The blankets are wonderful! I know they will each find just the right child to love them for a long time to come.
Please pass on our appreciation to all the women who's love shows through these blankets:"
Susan Webster, Coordinator

YARN NEEDED

just a reminder that we can use all sorts of yarn. (washable of course)
Even if you hve partial skeins, we can use them for the granny afghans. Please consider sharing some of your "stash with us.

Another thank you from the south

I thought you would all enjoy reading another note of thanks from a hospital
that received Project Linus Blankets during the hurricane.

"We received a box of blankets and quilts that were donated to the children
affected by Hurricane Katrina. We would like to thank you for your generosity.
As you know, many children on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have been adversely
affected by Hurricane Katrina. Not only have they lost their homes, but most
of their possessions as well. The blankets have given them something to hold
on to and put a smile on their faces. Thank you very much for caring and
putting your caring into action.
The Pediatric staff at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport"

Thank you letter from Mississippi

"Thank you and your chapter for all the blankets you sent. the hospitals we gave them to were thrilled. Most Mom's were delivering babies with nothing to take them home to and sick children lost everything."
Bless you all Martha Carlson, Coordinator

Just a little note to show you how much all your work is appreciatged.

Dolores

Latest figures from national...

The latest figures for blankets donated to the hurricane victims from all the Linus chapters across the USA is.......22,453
We are really proud of this group.
dolores

Latest news

I guess that the requests for blankets for hurricane relief have come to an end. Thanks to all of you who contributed.

Please remember that if you hear of a child that needs one of our blankets to please let me know. We always have one that is ready to go out to a hurting child. We received over 500 blankets this month and they have gone out already. Unfortunately, there always seems to be a need.

Dolores