NWPA Project Linus is one of 368 chapters of the national organization Project Linus. Our chapter covers the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer,Warren in PA and Chautauqua County in NY.
Nationally Project Linus has given 7.7 million blankets to children in need
Locally our chapter has given 50,698 since our founding in 1998
Mission:
Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization providing handmade security blankets for children who are seriously ill, traumatized or in need. Our blanketeers make handmade blankets to give to these babies and children to keep. Our goal is to help these little ones through whatever they are going through, be it an illness, hospital stay, surgery, tragedy, loss of a loved one, whatever the trauma with the love and comfort of a security blanket.
First it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."
Second it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Where Blankets go locally:
Baby First, Bair Foster Foundation, Bethesda Children's Home,
Caring Place, Children's Advocacy Center, Children's Aid Society, Crawford County Human Services- CYS, Community Shelter Service, Crime Victim Center,
Erie Family Center, Erie Free Store
Home, Family Services ( Union City)
Good Sheppard Center ,
Harbor Creek Youth Service's, House of Healing,
Individuals, International Institute,
Keystone Foster Care & Youth,
Mercy Center for Women, Mercer County Children & Youth, Millcreek Community Hospital,
Nurse Family Partnership,
Office of Children & Youth Services,
Refuge Homeless Shelter-First United Methodist, Royal Family kids
SafeNet, Safe Start, Salvation Army, Sarah Reed Children's Home, St. Vincent's Health Center, Shriner's Hospital
Title 5,
UPMC Hamot Hospital,
WIC, WCA Hospital , Women Care Center
Where and When we Meet:
First Wednesday of each month-
Millcreek Sewing ,
6044 Peach Street 1:00- 4:00 Sewing kits and machines provided
Second Monday of Each month- **** NEW LOCATION ****
1446 Patterson Ave Erie, PA 16508
9:00-11:00 Working meeting, sewing on labels, sorting blankets
Third Thursday of each month-
Doug Yaple's Vacuum,
1518 E. 38th Street 10:00-2:00 sewing kits provided
Drop off Locations:
Erie County-
NWPA Project Linus
JoAnn Burkhart
1446 Patterson Ave.
Erie, PA 16508
814-864-9389 814-392-5583
Kelly' Sewing Corner
3330 W. 26th Street
Erie, PA 16506
814-838-7158
Marie Bissell
Lake City- 814-774-4884
Tena Pomeroy
814-969-4433 ( Albion,Pa)
Super Stitch
10429 West Main Street * New Location*
North East, PA 16428
814-725-3335
Millcreek Sewing Center
6044 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509
814-866-8227
Doug Yaple's Vacuum
1815 E. 38th Street
Erie, PA 16510
814-897-9337
Doug Yaple's West
2301 W. 12th Street ( Schaal Plaza)
814-616-6100
JoAnn Fabrics
7200 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509
1-814-866-3197
Crawford County:
Jackie Gildea
Crawford County Assistant
1-814-720-0702
Fox's Sew & Vac Sales & Service
Downtown Mall
Meadville, PA 16335
814-333-1400
JoAnn Fabrics
18921 Park Ave PLZ
Meadville, PA
1-814-724-1358
Warren County:
Ronnieann Walters
814-723-5408
Mercer County:
Linda Hajtol
724-588-3289
116 N. Pitt StreetMercer, PA 16137
St. Michael's Church
76 North High Street
Greenville, PA 16125
724-588-9800
JoAnn Fabrics
2481 E. State Street
Heritage, PA 16148
724-981-4000
2020 Updated Blanket Sizes
Preemie- 30 X 30 36 X 36
Baby- 36 X 40 40 X 40
Medium- 40 X 50 40 X 60
Large- 45 X 60 45 X 72
Local blanket requirements:
1. Blankets need to be made with NEW, CLEAN, WASHABLE materials in infant, child or teen friendly colors. These blankets are meant to be colorful, cheerful, and cuddly and loved.
2. We accept new/not used knitted, crocheted, quilted and no-sew fleece tied blankets (either double or single thickness).
3. Due to children’s allergies: blankets coming from smoking households or households with pets need to be washed prior to donation.
3. A -Due to children's allergies and possible respiratory issues, please refrain from the use of dryer sheets, fabric softeners and scented bags when either laundering or storing blanket making material.
4. Please keep in mind hospital equipment and small fingers.
If you are hand tying a quilt ,secure the batting into outer seams and if the blanket is tied, please anchor it every 4 - 6 inches so that the batting doesn't bunch up. Cut strings short.
Weave in all yarn ends on crocheted and knitted blankets. No long fringe.
5.Once again due to allergies please no wool or wool blend in yarn or fabric
6.Check your blanket carefully for straight pins. Its better you find that pin and not the child who receives your blanket.
7.No buttons, ribbons or similar decorative items on a blanket. They can be a choking hazard to children.
8.We cannot accept blankets with puffy type paint on the surface of a blanket. The thick stuff peels off - we don't want a child eating it. We recently received a blanket that had so much paint on the surface it was like pulling apart Velcro when we tried to unfold it.
9.We do accept blankets decorated with fabric markers,(please note regular markers or Sharpies bleed when washed)
10.We cannot accept blankets with any religious connotations, or seasonal prints.
Kids Helping Kids Program: This program is designed for young children or those who are not old enough to make no-sew fleece blankets. We encourage older groups and adults to consider making no-sew fleece tied blankets for their community involvement projects. For more information please contact JoAnn Burkhart. 1-814-864-9389 or 1-814-392-5583
To Request a blanket for your organization or an individual child contact JoAnn Burkhart.1-814-864-9389 or nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com
Basic Fleece Blanket Single Layer making directions:
1 1/2- 2 yards of fleece
Trim 2 selvage sides
Cut out 5" squares from each corner
cut 1" strips that you then tie first loosely, then second tie a bit tighter. otherwise you end up with an oval shape blanket rather than a rectangle that you started with.
