“The best kind of sleep under heaven above, is under a blanket handmade with love.’’ Project Linus uses this quote to describe its mission to provide warmth and security to children in hospitals or those experiencing trauma through the donation of new blankets.
For many years, children receiving care at RiverView Health have been comforted by soft, warm blankets and afghans provided by the nonprofit organization.
Kay Oakland, Gary, MN, serves as the coordinator for the nearest chapter, which serves Norman and Mahnomen Counties. Polk County does not have a Project Linus chapter. However, because RiverView treats patients from a large area, Oakland includes RiverView in donations in an effort to comfort as many children as possible.
Project Linus is a 100 percent volunteer, nonprofit national organization with a twofold mission:
- To provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets, and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.’’
- It is the mission of Project Linus to provide a rewarding and fun service for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Established in 1995 in Denver, Project Linus now has chapters in every state and has donated over 10 million blankets to children from birth to age 18.
Oakland has worked with the Norman/Mahnomen chapter since its inception in November 2008. The chapter donates about 300 blankets each year to hospitals and social service agencies, she shared. RiverView has received 60 blankets in the past year.
Blanketeers make blankets and afghans at home and get them to Oakland, where they are then labeled, packaged, and delivered. Volunteers also gather a few times a year to work on the blankets together. Supplies for the blankets are purchased with donations.
If you would like to donate to the program, please make checks payable to Projet Linus and send them to Oakland at 4025 290th Ave., Gary, MN 56545. For more information on Project Linus, contact Oakland at genekayo@arvig.net or visit projectlinus.org.
