Project Linus: Creating Security through Handmade Blankets

Project Linus is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing handmade blankets and afghans to traumatized and/or critically ill children. The core mission of Project Linus is to provide a sense of love, security and comfort to children in need. The recipients typically range in age from newborn to 18 years old.

Project Linus was named after the Linus character from the Peanuts comic strip who was almost never without his blue security blanket.

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Prior to his death in February 2000, the creator of Peanuts, Charles Schulz, was aware of the project and thrilled that Linus was the inspiration for its name.

Christmas 1995, Denver Colorado resident Karen Loucks was reading an article “Joy to the World” in Parade Magazine by American Pulitzer prize winning photo journalist Eddie Adams.

In the article was a photo of a three-year old cancer patient named Laura holding her “blankie” that she would take with her through all her intensive treatments. After reading the article, Ms. Loucks was compelled to provide handmade blankets for a local children’s hospital, and this is how Project Linus began.

The National Headquarters for Project Linus is located in Bloomington, Illinois, and governed by a Board of Directors with over 368 chapters located throughout all 50 states. Project Linus has comforted children in hospitals, shelters, hospices and social service agencies with nearly five million handmade blankets distributed thus far.

Project Linus has been featured in national magazines and television segments over the years and continues to steadily grow today.

There are several ways you can get involved in Project Linus and make a difference.

1. Become a “blanketeer,” a volunteer who makes handmade, washable blankets and donates them to a local chapter of Project Linus.
2. Donate your time volunteering at a local Project Linus location and/or help coordinate a special event.
3. Donate fabric and other blanket-making materials.
4. Make a monetary donation to Project Linus.

All blanket sizes and styles are welcome including crocheted or knitted afghans, quilts, comforters and receiving blankets, preferably in child-friendly colors. The size of a blanket could be as small as 36” X 36” or large enough to fit a twin bed for a teenager.

In addition, due to allergy reasons, they must come from smoke-free environments. It is important that all blankets be homemade and washable.

Why must the blankets be handmade?

Handmade (or homemade) means not purchased or manufactured commercially. The purpose is that each child is touched by the significance of someone taking the time to make something special for them from their heart.

There are specific materials that are not accepted such as wool, so please check the Project Linus website for more information.

Here is just a partial list of major businesses and organizations that support Project Linus. Please visit the Friends of Project Linus page for a complete list of supporters.

• AT&T Foundation
• Compass Bank
• Creative Knitting Magazine
• Discover a Star Foundation
• Ecolab Foundation
• ExxonMobil
• IBM
• International Paper Company Foundation
• JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores
• Keepsake Quilting
• Kiwanis Club
• Kohl’s
• Lockheed Martin
• Mettler Threads
• Office Depot
• Penske
• Pico Textiles
• The Prudential Foundation
• Quilter’s World Magazine
• QuiltWoman.com
• Sara Lee
• Starbucks
• Sun Trust Bank
• Tenet Healthcare Foundation
• WalMart Foundation
• Washington Mutual Bank

Show your support by utilizing these businesses and supporting these organizations that give back to Project Linus.

Since 1995, Project Linus continues to warm the hearts of children giving them a sense of security, hope, love and warmth.

It is not necessary to be an expert at making handmade blankets for your creation to be beautiful to a child.

Make a difference in the life of a child today!

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