I know many knitters and crocheters are already familiar with Project Linus in fact, as I've shared with you before it was the very FIRST charity I ever became involved with as a beginner crocheter. So why am I covering Project Linus Greater Boston Chapter now? Because I have a friend and her husband staying in Boston where their baby girl is being treated for a bad case of bacterial pneumonia. I wanted to highlight the great folks in Boston and the amazing work that they do to support over 50 hospitals and social service agencies! That's a lot of work! Not unlike The Binky Project, Project Linus has been around a long time is well organized and worthy of another look. Very likely all of us know what its like to get the jarring news that a child we care about has been run to an emergency hospital with a broken limb or a serious illness. Its terribly disconcerting. When a child is far from home, receiving treatment its a strain on both the family and the child. In the case of my friend, she's several hours away and the baby is just a little thing. The knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, and fleece blanket tiers of Project Linus work hard to provide a little comfort to those who need a hand made hug. As of January 2012 PLGBC had given away 39,380 blankets! Now two years later I am sure the need is greater then ever! http://www.bostonprojectlinus.com/recipients.html One of the great things about living in a big city is that organizations like Project Linus have contact members in outlaying areas of the city so that everyone can participate. Boston is one such amazing city they have no fewer than 5 members who act as contacts for the organization! Of course my whole village would fit in one of their major hospitals several times over. LOL! If you live or know someone who might be interested in helping Project Linus: Greater Boston Chapter the list of contact numbers and the Facebook page is found here: http://www.bostonprojectlinus.com/contact.html I've often said my fiber friends are some of the most generous in the world. Like many other organizations Project Linus has pretty specific guidelines so before you snatch up that yarn or fabric please read here: http://www.bostonprojectlinus.com/blankets.html One very important aspect of donating through any fiber related charity is that the materials must not have any strong odor. I adhere to this rule like GLUE because both my children and myself have asthma. This is what PLGBC writes:
Now I know that some of you wonder whether a blanket could really make that much difference. Let me assure you, THEY DO! Whether you are creating a blanket for a hospital or a nursing home, I can virtually guarantee that your hand work will be appreciated. Never once have I donated to a hospital or nursing home when the recipient hasn't been over joyed to receive a hand made gift. Once, when my children were very young, my daughter had to go to the ER in an ambulance. An ambulance worker reached up into a compartment and pulled out the most adorable hand made bear. My daughter is now 24 and we still have that bear. We call it Ambi... as in Ambulance :) There's just a tiny example of how hand made gifts are so very appreciated. Here's the link to a letter written to the selfless and caring folks at Project Linus: Greater Boston Chapter: http://www.bostonprojectlinus.com/images/tapsthankyou.jpg
I know at this point I've wished that I could do more to help my friend and her little baby girl but its not to be so. This situation has sent me back to the roots of my charity giving. Back to Project Linus. Here are the ways YOU can help Project Linus: Greater Boston Chapter: http://www.bostonprojectlinus.com/helping.html Thank you for reading today!
2 Comments
Thank you for this much appreciated post about our Project Linus chapter. What we do is a labor of love. We welcome new "blanketeers" to join in our mission to provide "handmade hugs" to seriously ill & traumatized children. To date, the GBPL chapter has donated over 50 K There are PL chapters in every state.
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Lyn Wilson
7/26/2015 10:19:26 am
Hi Kathie,
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