NWPA Project Linus: September 2026

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

September Newsletter

September 2026

Good Morning Blanketeers,

Where did the time go. NWPA Project Linus is celebrating our 28^th Anniversary this month . In that time we have delivered over 79,000 new handmade blankets to children in need. Congratulations to all of our wonderful Blanketeers that have made this possible,

Thank you can hardly express to all of you that made this year’s Erie Give’s fundraiser such a success. We will have to wait until mid September for our final results this year. Stay tuned…

When we say that it “Takes a Village”, no truer words were spoken. We can’t do what we do without you !!! These funds will allow us to purchase blanket making supplies, such as material, batting and yarn for our kits.

Odds & Ends:

· There is still in need of all sizes and types Boy blankets.

· Especially baby size blankets

· As we near the cooler months and the holidays, there are several agencies that require a large amount of blankets for their clients. So, we ask that you continue your wonderful blanket making, so that NWPA Project Linus can meet their needs.

Reminders:

· When you store or launder your blankets, please do not use dryer sheets or scented bags or laundry soap, due to children’s allergies and possible respiratory issues

· Check your completed blankets for pins or long threads. Please remove them before a child finds them first

Looking Ahead:

February 20th, 2027 National Make a Blanket Day

August 10th, 2027 Erie Gives Day

Follow us on Facebook for updates and changes 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

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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 10.7 million blankets to children in need

Locally our chapter has given 75,000 since our founding in 1998

Contact Information : Chapter Coordinator-JoAnn Burkhart

Phone- 814-392-5583

Email- nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

1446 Patterson Ave, Erie, PA 16508

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, Boro Women's and Family Center

Caring Place, Children's Advocacy Center, Children's Aid Society, Crawford County Human Services- CYS, Community Shelter Service, Crime Victim Center, Community Health Net

Early Headstart - Meadville, Elk Valley School, Erie Family Center, Erie Free Store

Home, Family Center, Family Services ( Union City), Foster Erie, Free Store

Good Sheppard Center ,

Harbor Creek Youth Service's, House of Healing,

Individuals

Keystone Foster Care & Youth, Love, Inc.

Mercy Center for Women, Mercer County Children & Youth, MHED-JFK Center, Millcreek Community Hospital,

Office of Children & Youth Services, O.C.Y - Meadville

Project Love

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

UPMC Hamot Hospital, UPMC Chatauqua

WIC, Women Care Center

Drop off Locations:

Erie County-

NWPA Project Linus

JoAnn Burkhart

1446 Patterson Ave.

Erie, PA 16508

814-392-5583

Kelly' Sewing Corner

3330 W. 26th Street

Erie, PA 16506

814-838-7158

Hank's Yarn Supply Co.

3330 1612 W 8th Street

Erie, PA 16505

LaFaro Insurance Agency

3330 4627 Peach Street

Erie, PA 16509

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

Doug Yaple's Vacuum

1815 E. 38th Street

Erie, PA 16510

814-897-9337

Crawford County-

Fox's Sew & Vac Sales & Service

Downtown Mall

Meadville, PA 16335

814-333-1400

Sew Frannetastic

20292 East Street

Saegertown, PA 16433

Warren County:

Ronnieann Walters

814-723-5408

Youngsville Free Methodist Church

179 Davis St.

Youngsville, PA 16371

Mercer County:

Linda Hajtol

724-588-3289

116 N. Pitt Street

Mercer, PA 16137

St. Michael's Church

76 North High Street

Greenville, PA 16125

724-588-9800

724-981-4000

Children's Aid Society

350 W. Market St.

Mercer, PA 16137

Michaels (Hermitage Town Plaza)

2481 E State St.

Hermitage, PA 16148

2026 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.