Hollister
–
”
Blanketeers
”
from throughout the community will come together this weekend
for a day of quilting, cutting, sewing, knitting and crocheting
blankets for local children who need a little warmth and
comfort.
Hollister – “Blanketeers” from throughout the community will come together this weekend for a day of quilting, cutting, sewing, knitting and crocheting blankets for local children who need a little warmth and comfort.
“These blankets go to children who have been traumatized or are seriously ill,” said Sheron Johnson, coordinator of the San Benito County Project Linus chapter. “It can make a lot of difference to them.”
Project Linus is national effort to bring a sense of security and hope to children in unfortunate circumstances across the country, named after the beloved “Peanuts” character whose small blue blanket was his constant companion. The nonprofit boasts 385 chapters across the country and has donated more than 1.6 million blankets to kids in need since its inception.
The local chapter is going on its fourth year, and has already donated more than 250 blankets to local nonprofits that serve chidden. Johnson founded the local club in 2002 as a memorial to her son, who lost his battle with cancer. Social Services, Compassion Pregnancy Services and Emmaus House are a few of the local organizations that have accepted blankets to redistribute to children.
“Because we’re a local club, the blankets we make only go to children in San Benito County,” Johnson said. “We don’t infringe on other clubs; we focus on helping the kids in this community.
National Make a Blanket day is every February, but the local chapter prefers to hold another Blanket Day in the fall.
“We’ll have women knitting, quilting and crocheting blankets all day, and we have 4-H students who tie fleece off into blankets,” Johnson said. “We have anywhere between 20 and 30 people working; it’s a busy time, but it’s fun.”
The blankets are distributed to infants and children as old as 18. Keeping enough supply for older kids can be a challenge, Johnson said, as many people automatically think of baby blankets when they start a project.
“People like to make baby blankets, but we always need bigger ones for the older kids and teens,” she said.
When possible, Johnson matches blankets to a child’s interests or favorite color.
The public is welcome to drop in and become a Blanketeer for a day, but making a blanket is not the only way to help the effort. The only rule is that Project Linus will not redistribute secondhand blankets, the idea being that each child will receive a blanket that was specially made for them with lots of love.
“We always, always need more yarn, and money helps to,” Johnson said. “A lot of times people will come by who’ve lost a loved one and don’t know what to do with all the yarn they left behind, and this is a good use for that.”
Making a blanket is not the quickest or easiest of tasks, but the finished project can make all the difference in the world for a child or family in need, organizers say.
“We put together a layette for our new mothers, and the blankets are a really nice addition,” said Sarah Bounocare, speaking on behalf of Compassion Pregnancy Services Executive Director Angie Roland. “A lot of our mothers don’t have the resources to get these items on their own, and it means a lot.”
The Make a Blanket Day will be held from 9am to 3pm today at the Methodist Church on the at the corner of 5th and Monterey Streets. Anyone wishing to spend a few hours making a blanket is welcome, as well as donations of yarn and cash. For more information call 637-2971.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
