March 2026 Newsletter

 

                                                          

March, 2026

Hello Blanketeers,                                                                            

Once again I would like to thank all of our Quilt Shoppe’s, Stores  and Blanketeers for supporting National Make a Blanket Day. Without all of you, we would not be able to deliver nearly 200 plus blankets to our many agencies that provide a service to children in our area on a monthly basis. “ It really does take a Village”… …..Our Blanketeers are a true testament to that statement. Thank you, thank you.

We are still in need of boys blankets, all sizes and kind

 

REMINDERS:

-        Due to hospital equipment and little fingers, when knitting or crocheting an afghan please use patterns or needle size with corresponding yarn so that the completed blanket isn’t too loose or airy. Sometimes it might only take going to one size needle smaller to make all of the difference.

 

 -Because of 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.

 

Looking Ahead:

 

 

August 11^th-   Erie Gives Day

 

 

 

 Follow us via Facebook as well. You can find us at:

·       NWPA Project Linus -    Like us -and that automatically will add you to our friend list.

·       www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com- is our web page

 

Warmly, 

JoAnn Burkhart

NWPA Project Linus – Coordinator

814-392-5583

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

February Newletter

 

                                                          

February, 2026

Hello Blanketeers,    

Once again, I am re-posting the information that was taken from our National web site regarding the beginning of National Make a Blanket Day. I have been asked of its origin many times, so here it is:

HOW DID IT BEGIN?

National Make a Blanket Day began in 1999 after the terrible events that took place at Columbine High School. We found that suddenly we were in need of a very large number of blankets, and quickly. Our chapters came to the rescue, holding “blanket bees” all over the country and then sending those blankets to our local chapters in Denver. It was a huge success, and we learned that we had a national network of people who could and would help. It was decided that we would hold an annual Make A Blanket Day where each chapter could host activities in their area to promote Project Linus and to increase our inventory of warm cuddly blankets. Generally, we can attribute the collection of 75,000 to 100,000 blankets to National Make a Blanket Day! 

All locations this year will again be drop off only.

We are looking forward to a very successful Make a Blanket Day, please come out and support our Local Chapter and the many stores that provide a Drop Off location for finished blankets.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21st NATIONAL MAKE A BLANKET DAY

NWPA Project Linus National Make a Blanket Day drop off ONLY locations are as follows:

Kelly’s Sewing Corner- 3330 W.26^th Street (Village West)                         10:00-2:00

Fox’s Sew & Vac Sales and Service Downtown Mall – Meadville PA        9:30-2:00

Doug Yaple’s Vacuum- 1815 E. 38^th Street                                                    10:00- 2:00

Super Stitch – 10429 W. Main Street North East, PA                                   10:00-3:00

Saint Michael’s Church 85 High Street Greenville, PA 16125 (M-F)           9:00-3:00  

Children’s Aid Society 350 W. Market St  Mercer, PA  (M-F )                      9:00- 4:30

Michaels (Hermitage Towne Plaza) 2481 E. State Street Hermitage, PA  9:00- 5:00 * NEW DROP OFF*

Hanks Yarn Supply Co 1612 W. 8^th Street Erie, PA 16505                            10:00-4:00  *NEW DROP OFF*                     

 

Odds & Ends:  

·       We are still in need of Boy Blankets ( All sizes and types)

·       Baby blankets

Reminders:

·        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, or dropping off completed blankets. Although they may have a pretty aroma, the scents absorb into the materials, which may be difficult to remove.

• When making a Single Layer Fleece No Sew Blanket we recommend at least 1 ½ to 2 yards of Fleece fabric. And most important, before you start to cut the strips that, FIRST you must TRIM the 2 SELVAGE SIDES, then from there you have options in how you wish to tie your blanket.

    

                                                               

I put this reminder in occasionally, as we receive many blankets with the selvage still on the blankets. We then have to trim each strip of the selvage before that blanket can be delivered.          

 

Looking Ahead:

 

February 21^st             -National Make a Blanket Day

August 11^th-               Erie Gives Day

 

 Please follow us on Facebook as well, for up to date and current events. You can find us at:

·       NWPAProjectLinus-    Like us -and that automatically will add you to our friend list.

·       www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com- is our web page

 

Warmly, 

JoAnn Burkhart

NWPA Project Linus – Coordinator

814-392-5583 (c)

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

January 2026 Newsletter

 

                                                          

January, 2026

Happy New Year Blanketeers,                                                                            

I hope that everyone enjoyed a Merry Christmas and wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

With the help of our generous Blanketeers many Agencies have benefited with new handmade blankets that have brought comfort to children in need in 2025. In fact we delivered over 1,000 blankets in the 4^th quarter alone. That is only made possible by your continued support. Our Village is amazing !!

Office of Children and Youth Services, Community Shelter Services, Crime Victim Center, Erie Free Store, Community Health Net, Safe Start, SafeNet, Women’s Care Centers, Nurse Family Partnership, International Institute, Refuge Homeless Shelter, Children’s Advocacy Center, Millcreek Community Hospital) Pediatric Unit, W.I.C. Erie, Foster Erie, Project Love, Shriner’s Hospital, UPMC Hamot, St. Vincent’s Hospital  and many many more……

We can only hope that 2026 will be filled with Blanketeers once again being so caring and generous.

 Listed below are our current Stores, Quilt Shoppes or Individuals that have graciously opened their doors to NWPA Project Linus to be a drop off location:

Erie County:

Joann Burkhart- NWPA Project Linus Coordinator -1446 Patterson Ave Erie, PA 16508  1-814-392-5583  

Tena Pomeroy- ( Albion) 1-814-859-0033

Doug Yaple’s – 1815 E 38th Street, Erie PA                               

Kelly’s Sewing Corner- 3330 W.26^th Street (Village West) 

Super Stitch -10429 W Main Street- North East

LaFaro Insurance Agency  4627 Peach Street

Crawford County:

Fox’s Sew & Vac Sales and Service, Downtown Mall – Meadville PA

Sew Frannetastic   20292 East Street  Saegertown, PA

Warren County:

Ronnieanne Walters – 1-814-723-5408 

Youngsville Free Methodist Church  179 Davis St Youngsville, PA   

Mercer County:

Linda Hajtol – 1-724-588-3289       

St. Michael’s Church 85 N High Street Greenville, PA 16125

Children’s Aid Society 350 W. Market Street Mercer PA 16137

For your convenience I hope this list will assist our Blanketeers as to where a lovingly handmade Project Linus blanket can be dropped off.

 

National Make a Blanket Day- February 21st, 2026

New handmade blankets can be dropped off on this day at all of our drop off locations that were stated above. This is a drop off location event ONLY.

Odds and Ends:

- We are still in need of Boy blankets- All sizes and types ( knitted, crocheted, quilted and fleece tied)

- If you are a knitter or crocheter and would like some yarn, please contact me to make arrangement for pick up.

Reminders:

- When knitting or crocheting an afghan please be aware of the needle size and yarn weight, so that your finished item isn’t too loose or “holey”, due to little fingers and hospital equipment.

- If you are making fleece tied blankets, the 2 selvage sides MUST BE TRIMMED prior to cutting the strips. Otherwise we have to trim each strip individually before a child receives that blanket. This is very time consuming. We ask that these directions are followed.

- Project Linus blankets are new handmade blankets only

Looking Ahead:

 

February 21^st   2026     - National Make a Blanket Day

August 11^th      2026      - Erie Gives Day

 

·       NWPAProjectLinus-    Like us -and that automatically will add you to our friend list.

·       www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com- is our web page

 

Warmly, 

JoAnn Burkhart

NWPA Project Linus – Coordinator

814-392-5583 (c)

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

December 2025 Newsletter

 

December, 2025

Hello Blanketeers,                                                                               

To date we have delivered  over 74,000 blankets in our 27 years as a chapter, to hospitals, emergency shelters, group homes, women’s care centers, and many other agencies that provide aid and comfort to children in need that would not have been possible without our wonderful Blanketeers and Quilt Shoppe’s that support NWPA Project Linus. With your caring support the statement “ It takes a village” truly does comes to life.

Thank you to all who have donated blankets, material, yarn, a place to drop off blankets or time to NWPA Project Linus, your efforts are wonderfully appreciated. That is an amazing amount of knit and purl, knitted blankets, single and double crocheted afghans, thousands of tied knots on fleece blankets and countless bindings on quilts.

****This Tuesday December 2^nd is National Day of Caring. You can help our NWPA Project Chapter by going to:

www.projectlinus.org and designate our chapter as a recipient of your donation. Every little bit helps our chapter to provide materials for new handmade blankets to children in need in our community***

February 21, 2026

·        National Make a Blanket Day- Here are a few points of interest about MABD-

·       Bring awareness of the need for blankets

·       Bring awareness to those in need in the winter months that may be in Shelters, Emergency Services…

·       This date may seem far off at this time, but it will be here before we know it.

·        There will be only drop off locations in the next newsletter.

 

ODDS & ENDS:  

 

-We are still in need of Boy blankets of all sizes and types from baby to the big kids.

 

 

REMINDERS:

  

-        Due to children’s allergies and possible Respiratory Issues we need to refrain from using dryer sheets, scented bags when storing blankets and blanket making materials. Although they make for a pretty scent, it may trigger an episode for a child receiving that blanket.

-         

-        When making a Fleece No Sew Single layer Blanket we recommend at least 1 ½ to 2 yards of fabric. And most important, before you start to cut the strips to, FIRST ,TRIM the 2 SELVAGE SIDES, then from there you have options in how you wish to tie your blanket.

This is very important- Our Mission Statement says, that we only accept new handmade blankets. If you have gently used blankets, there are shelters that would be thrilled to receive them.

Looking Ahead:

 December 2nd 2025             National Day of Caring

 February 21st, 2026-       National Make a Blanket Day

 August 11^th, 2026-           Erie Gives Day

 

 

 

Follow us on Facebook for updates as well. You can find us at:

·       NWPAProjectLinus-    Like us -and that automatically will add you to our friend list.

·       www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com- is our web page

 

Warmly, 

JoAnn Burkhart

NWPA Project Linus – Coordinator

814-392-5583

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

November Newsletter 2025

 

November 2025

 

Hello Blanketeers,

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you !!!!

 

We are very “ Thankful” for all of our truly generous Blanketeers for their generosity and continued support as well as the many quilt shops, stores and individuals that take in blankets for our organizations. When we say that it takes a “ Village”, we really mean it. Your support allows our organization to deliver between 200-300 new handmade blankets a month.

 

 During these next few months we usually receive requests for large amount of blankets from several agencies. We ask that if you have blankets that you haven’t taken to a drop off location yet, to please do so. Our blankets not only bring comfort but also warmth to many children in need.

 

***** Looking for long arm quilters that may be interested in helping our Chapter. Materials would be provided. Please give me a call 1-814-392-5583 for more details. Your help would be greatly appreciated *****

 

Odds and Ends

·       If you have pets in your home, please check your blankets before you donate them for animal fur. Due to children’s allergies, we ask that you launder them with unscented detergent and fabric softeners.

·       We are still need of baby size blankets and BOY Blankets at this time.

 

 

Looking Ahead:

 

February 21^st , 2026 -  National Make a Blanket Day

August 11^th, 2026        Erie Gives

 

 Follow us on Facebook for updates as well. You can find us at:

 

·       NWPA Project Linus -    Like us -and that automatically will add you to our friend list.

·       www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com- is our web page

 

Warmly, 

JoAnn Burkhart

NWPA Project Linus Coordinator

1-814-392-5583 (C)

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

 

NWPA Project Linus    FaceBook

nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com