Our mission: providing security through blankets...
Our mission is simple: to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. We do this by giving them gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created for Project Linus by volunteer "blanketeers." The Blanketeers are part of our mission, as well: we seek to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Through the upheavals great and small, affecting one family or many, people armed only with needles and hooks and fiber and fabric have been knitting, crocheting, and sewing useful and comforting things for strangers in places far way, lives far from their own even if only just across town. The gift of a blanket from someone who made it with love and care, someone who doesn't know you but knows your need to feel safe and warm and loved and cared for in a life gone crazy, who made this for you to hug and to hold and wrap yourself up in without asking anything in return, is huge. Huge enough to help these children work with their loss, help give them the strength to pick the pieces of their lives and move into what lies ahead.
Whoever said "nothing in life is free" never held a Project Linus blanket!
Through the upheavals great and small, affecting one family or many, people armed only with needles and hooks and fiber and fabric have been knitting, crocheting, and sewing useful and comforting things for strangers in places far way, lives far from their own even if only just across town. The gift of a blanket from someone who made it with love and care, someone who doesn't know you but knows your need to feel safe and warm and loved and cared for in a life gone crazy, who made this for you to hug and to hold and wrap yourself up in without asking anything in return, is huge. Huge enough to help these children work with their loss, help give them the strength to pick the pieces of their lives and move into what lies ahead.
Whoever said "nothing in life is free" never held a Project Linus blanket!
Did you know...
Here are some interesting facts and figures about Project Linus:
- Karen Loucks Rinedollar started Project Linus on Dec. 24, 1995. The North Bay chapter started May 2003.
- Project Linus National has had nonprofit status since May 12, 1997.
- Project Linus nationally has officially collected 7,375,351 blankets since 1995!
- The North Bay Chapter (us) has donated over 12,000 blankets since December 31, 2013.
- Today, Project Linus has 305 chapters in the United States and delivers approximately 500,000 blankets each year. As of August 2023, over 9 million blankets have been delivered.
The 3rd Saturday of February is National 'Make A Blanket Day'! Join in the fun and make a blanket! You can drop it off at one of collection sites. See the Contact/Drop Off Tab of our website for more information.
The North Bay Chapter is open to anyone interested in becoming a 'blanketeer'. If you enjoy quilting, crocheting or knitting and would like more information, join us at one of our meetings or email our Chapter Coordinator, Jenny Giacomini at [email protected] or call 707-778-6875.
Where our blankets go...
Aurora Behavioral Hospital • AFS - Alternative Family Services • CalParent (CPI) • Center for Domestic Peace • Child Start, Napa • Community Violence Solutions • Expressions of Hope • Interfaith • Marin General Hospital • Memorial Hospital, Santa Rosa • Marin Pregnancy Clinic • Marin Community Clinic • Multicultural Child Development • Napa Valley School District Counseling • N.B.C.C. - North Bay Children's Center • North Marin Community Clinic • Petaluma Police Dept. • Petaluma Health Clinic • Project Keep • Queen of the Valley Hospital • Redwood Empire Foster Program • Sexual Assault Advocates • Side by Side • Sonoma County Health Clinic • Sutter Health Clinic • True To Life Child & Family Services • Women's Health & Birth • Women's Recovery Services • Verity • YWCA Shelter for Battered Women • The Village Closet • 4C's