Lititz-Lancaster Chapter Project Linus

Transcription

1 Lines from Linus! Lititz-Lancaster Chapter Project Linus June 2013 Volume 2013, Number 2 Notes from Diane Well it is a change of seasons. We are moving into summer soon, though I m not sure spring was ever here. It is a change of seasons for me as well as my first child graduates from high school and starts a new phase in his life this fall at college. And it is a change of seasons for Project Linus as we continue to grow. York County is really taking off and becoming self-sufficient as they have completed their first year with Patti at the helm. They are making/bringing in over 100 blankets every other month and finding more places to deliver these blankets to. Berks County is also finding more recipients for the blankets being made there. Lancaster County has taken on one more recipient since the last newsletter that is connected to the Family Center in Gap. And we are reaching out to Hershey as well. The word is getting out. I have received lots of donations from people - donations of material, yarn, batting, and thread. I have people contacting me about the weighted blankets. I have people telling me their stories of receiving a blanket for their child. I have people stepping up to become new blanketeers. I have teens showing an interest in getting involved. It is so inspiring to watch all this happening. And it is thanks to our website, National s website, and Facebook. As we move forward, we are trying some ventures and continuing old ones. We are finding what works and keeping some things the same because they definitely do work. Change can be good while having the same comforts that we are used to. The Quilting Bees have a few changes as we try to work without a hospitality person. The Thank You Tea may look different this year, but the intent of thanking everyone for their service is still there. The Yarn-ins may change from room to room but they are the same as always. We are adding a new dimension at Ephrata library by adding some evening times to the schedule to work on specific tasks and to hopefully open a new door for people. I can t wait to see what the summer and fall has in store for us! Diane dianelwagner67@aol.com Project Linus c/o Diane L Wagner 287 Highview Drive Leola, PA Local Chapter Website June 2013 Lititz/Lancaster Project Linus Newsletter Page 1

2 New Project Linus Meetings Ephrata Library is allowing us the use of their small conference room on Tuesday evenings. In addition to our existing schedule, we be adding meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 6-8pm. The purpose of these meetings is to work on particular components of the blankets. See the following schedule and see if this is something you can help out with. June 25, 2013 No Sew Fleece Tying bring fabric scissors July 9, 2013 Ribbon Binding Fleece bring sewing machine July 23, 2013 Granny squares bring your squares and plastic needles August 13, 2013 Cut and package quilt kits bring rotary blades and mats or scissors August 27, 2013 Piece quilt tops bring sewing machine September 10, 2013 NO MEETING September 24, 2013 No Sew Fleece Tying bring fabric scissors October 8, 2013 Newsletter mailings bring yourself October 22, 2013 Cut and package quilts kits bring rotary blades and mats or scissors November 12, 2013 Layering quilts bring sewing machine November 26, 2013 Sew/Iron Labels bring scissors December 10, 2013 Tie quilts bring scissors December 24, 2013 NO MEETING Fundraisers We had a Friendly s fundraiser in January and brought in $96. We had a yard sale in May and brought in $120. We also had a Tastefully Simple fundraiser during the yard sale. We will continue this fundraiser at the next Quilting Bee on June 15. Susan will be there to let you sample their foods and place orders. She has most of the products right there for you to take home. Products include beer bread, desserts, sauces, spices, drinks, rubs, marinades, etc. TAPS We gave 97 red, white, and blue blankets to the TAPS program on the Memorial Day weekend. A special thank you goes to Donna Witmer of Venture Jets, Inc. who coordinated a flight down to Dulles Airport with the blankets. That saved us on shipping costs. They were then picked up by the TAPS volunteers. Now we are saving red, white, and blue blankets for November s Snowball Express program. So keep them coming. Pillowcases We are still in need of about 20 more pillowcases. So keep them coming as well. Remember these are going to Teen Haven where we are covering the 100 beds. Twin size blankets are still needed there as well. June 2013 Lititz/Lancaster Project Linus Newsletter Page 2

3 Weighted Blankets We have given 7 weighted blankets to Autism York so far. We have about 6 more to be delivered there. We are meeting their needs at the moment, but a steady supply of them would work best. Copies If anyone can help with either your church or your business to make copies, we need that help. About $40-80 dollars is being spent to make copies of the newsletter. We still send out about 160 copies. I am trying to limit the newsletter to three times a year to cut costs. In the Spotlight Wilma Sweigart is one of our blanketeers. She is 86 years old and has been making 12 to 15 blankets per month. She has not been doing well lately with her health. Coordinators from all over the country have sent her cards to cheer her up. Now it is our turn. Please take a few moments and let Wilma know you are thinking of her. Her address is: Wilma Sweigart, Lot 13; 1963 Sheaffer Road, Elizabethtown PA New Recipients We are delivering blankets to two new places. One is Family Resource & Counseling Centers which is located in Gap and Lancaster. They provide counseling services to children. The other one is Hershey Medical Center in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. If anyone can run blankets to Hershey, please contact me. I never get over that way and if someone else does, it would be helpful. Patti s Last June 22 nd Birthday Party for York Here is Patti s last (contact Patti if you d like on her list!): Hi Everyone Come help us celebrate our first Birthday for Project Linus: June 22, 2013 from 10 am until 2 pm Holiday York MarketPlace 2525 E. Market ST York, Pa. We will be having a display of items that have been donated. Also any person giving a donation no matter what size will receive a coupon for Holiday Hair services. We will also be having a bake sale. If you would like to help in any way please let me know. If you would like to come and help with the bake stand or if you would like to bake something for us to sell. If you are baking something please bag it before you bring it also it would be nice if you also had it priced. You can either drop it off the day of the sale or at my house. Call so that I know you are coming and I can give you my address. Looking forward to a great day. Here is an update: We now have 6 locations that we are giving blankets for a total of 140 blankets every other month. Keep up the great work. Patti Dietz ; projectblankets@hotmail.com June 2013 Lititz/Lancaster Project Linus Newsletter Page 3

4 Thank yous I recently received a phone call from a mother whose child received a blanket. When the child was admitted to the hospital, she found the blanket waiting for her on her bed. She is now home, but has that blanket constantly at her side. She wants to sleep with it at night instead of her comforter. The mother was very grateful to Project Linus and was welling up with tears as she was telling me her story: My son was in NICU at Woman s & Babies and he received a yellow afghan for his nursery blanket. It is my treasured item and everytime I would go visit him I would see the yellow afghan first and get so happy. I knew right away which baby was mine when he got moved to another station and I didn t know it when I signed in. I found the correct station and saw the yellow afghan and smiled so big. He sleeps with it every night now and my favorite colors for him are yellow and grey. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Blessings to you all! P.S. He is home and returned to us after 10 days healthy and happy. Shalom! On behalf of the York Hospital Pediatric Department, I wish to thank you and your Project Linus group for creating beautifully handmade cloth blankets and knitted blankets for the hospitalized child. Our staff, parents and especially the children appreciate your efforts in making their day a brighter one. The children absolutely love their new blankie which is so soft and cuddly bringing them some peace and comfort from their tests and procedures. Make a Blanket Day We had a nice turnout in February for National Make a Blanket Day. We finished and/or received 420 blankets that day. Many of those blankets went to COBYs for their various programs. Then some went to Ephrata hospital, LGH, Women s & Babies, and Welsh Mountain Clinic. Some of the larger ones went to Teen Haven. The patriotic ones went to TAPS and the fleece were saved for the Burn Camp which is held this summer. Thank you everyone for coming out and offering your support with blankets. Donations from Solanco Students Students at Solanco School District Fashion and Design class made blankets for Project Linus. I went down to their classroom to receive the blankets. They worked so hard to make blankets for the children. It was nice to see the younger generation get involved with our cause. Regular Meeting Dates York - 2nd Saturday of Every other month. 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Bring your own lunch if you d like. 4 th United Methodist Church Corner of East Market and North Lehman Streets. 20 N. Lehman St York, PA July 13, 2013 September 14, 2013 November 9, 2013 (also in November is our Thank you! Tea on the 16 th ) Patti s Contact Information: Patti Dietz, projectblankets@hotmail.com; June 2013 Lititz/Lancaster Project Linus Newsletter Page 4

5 Yarn-ins - 4th Saturday of every other month starting in January. 10 a.m. until noon. No May meeting. No November meeting. Ephrata Public Library 550 S Reading Rd Ephrata, PA July 27, 2013 September 28, 2013 No November meeting due to our Thank you! Blanketeer Tea on November 16th Quilting Bees - 3rd Saturday of every other month starting in February. 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. February is Make a Blanket Day. November is our Thank you Tea. Yarnies are welcome!, and there are comfy couches for you. Landis Homes Community Room 1001 E Oregon Rd Lititz, PA June 15, 2013 August 17, 2013 October 19, 2013 November 16, 2013 (our Thank you! Blanketeer Tea) Over 37,286 blankets delivered to children in need Since the Lititz/Lancaster Chapter of Project Linus began 10 years ago over 37,286 blankets have found their way into the hands of children in need. June 2013 Lititz/Lancaster Project Linus Newsletter Page 5

6 Project Linus c/o Diane L Wagner 287 Highview Drive Leola, PA 17540