On Saturday, April 6 almost 100 crafters swung by the William Hall Library to help with blanket donations for Project Linus.

There were crocheters, knitters, sewers, quilters and people who work with fleece. All were working hard to make blankets for children in need of some love and security.

The first Project Linus chapter was formed in 1995, by Kathy Loucks, in the Denver, Colorado area.

The mission of Project Linus is to provide love, security, warmth and comfort to children who are ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through gifts of new, handmade and washable blankets and afghans.

Since 1995, 9,356,025 blankets (and counting) have been delivered nationwide.

After reading about the organization in a Parade magazine insert of the Providence Journal, Marth Sholes decided she wanted to get involved.

She tried reaching out to the local coordinator, but was not successful in getting through.

‘I called the national office, and have been the Rhode Island person since 1998,” she said.

Sholes said initially it was difficult to get people involved.

“My first year’s report was a total of 12 blankets, that I made myself,” Sholes said.

Thankfully, she now has a whole tribe of “blanketeers” who donate their time, skills and materials to help the children.

“The final count of blankets labelled on Saturday was 308. These were all premade blankets, that several volunteers sewed the Project Linus message onto every blanket for the receiver,” said Sholes.

“My heart was thinking of you,

My hands knew what to do.

This blanket grew out of the love

I want to share with you.

I hope it will keep you warm,

And befriend you late at night.

I hope you’ll come to love it,

And be comforted by its sight.

Let this blanket wrap you in friendship,

And cover you in love.

Because this blanket was thinking of you,

Long belong it was ever done.”

Local organizations receiving blankets include; Hasbro Children's Hospital, Bradley Hospital, South County Hospital, DCYF, Foster Forward, McAulley Village, SStar, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Martin Luther King center, and wherever else the need is greatest.

In addition to all the “blanketeers” who came in to help, people were able to grab yarn, thread, knitting and crochet needles, precut quilt squares, regular fabric and bunting and facing for quilts.

To learn more about Project Linus, go to their website projectlinus.org, or reach out to RI coordinator, Martha Sholes at ESHOLES@AOL.COM

Fall blanket day will be October 5, 2024 at William Hall Library in Cranston.