May , 2016

Good Morning Blanketeers,

April was a wonderful and very busy month full of many activities that gave us the opportunity to meet new Blanketeers and reconnect and visit with Blanketeers that we haven’t seen in a while. Truly, a beneficial month as we delivered over 190 blankets to 3 local hospitals, and 4 agencies. Our thanks go out to all you for your continued support, so that many children in need will be comforted by your generosity.

April 30th- Hampton Inn “ Sew In”  8050 Old Oliver Road 16509  10:00 -4:00

Hampton Inn “Sew In” Day – Again if you are coming to this event for the first time you will need the following:  Sewing Machine, All of your own Notions. If anyone has a small portable ironing board, Iron, cutting board, rotary cutter, please bring them with you.

Or you can come to knit or crochet for the day as well, so bring your knitting needles or crochet hooks.

The Meeting Room is on the first floor and we have access to the Hotel Baggage Carts to bring in our supplies.

We will provide the following:  Sewing Kits, (several different fun easy patterns)  

 Lunch, Beverages, and snacks.

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday August 9^th- Erie Gives 2016

 NWPA Project Linus has a very unique opportunity to take part in this one day Erie Gives on Tuesday August 9th from 8:00am – 8:00pm @ Eriegives.org . We qualify and are registered for this event.

We would ask that if you give to a charity throughout the year,that you would consider donating to NWPA Project Linus on that day.  Last year on this one day of fund raising over 2.8 million dollars were raised here in Erie. That is an incredible amount and a very generous Community.

Your donation to NWPA Project Linus would help us to purchase blanket making materials to help us meet the growing need in our Community of children in need.

                                                                      

May meetings:

           4th -  Millcreek Sewing Center -    6044 Peach Street   1:00- 4:00

9th- Yaple’s  Sewing & Vacuum – monthly meeting     9:00-11:00

          801 W. 26^th Street

19^th Doug Yaple’s Vacuum Center- monthly meeting  10:00-2:00

         1815 E. 38^th Street

Looking Ahead:

July 27^th- Senior Day @ Erie Zoo

August 9^th- Erie GivesDay

August 19^th-21^st-  Celebrate Erie

                                                       

                                                                   

ODDS & ENDS:

-        A Blanketeer has requested if anyone has some of those older panels with characters on them and are not using them, or sees them during the Garage Sale Season to get them and contact me. We can make arrangements for pick up and reimbursement.

-        UPMC Hamot NICU has an ongoing need of gently used receiving blankets- store bought, that they use to support the tiny heads of the infants in their carriers. They can be dropped off at all of our local drop off locations.

-        If you are doing any Spring Cleaning in your Sewing Room- please consider NWPA Project Linus. We can always use pieces and parts of material and yarn. 

REMINDERS:

-        When you drop off a blanket: please leave your contact information on a piece of paper, so that we can send a note of thanks for your donation.

-        In the upcoming months our calendar is a bit full of fun activities, if you are interested in helping with any of these events, please let me know.

 This year I will try to get information out 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

814-864-9389   814-392-5583 ( c)

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

April 2016 Newsletter

April, 2016

Welcome Spring Blanketeers,     

                                                                       

We have a lot of fun events in this month of April, so get your pens out to mark your calendars or put the dates in your phones, here is the list of them and what they are all about:

April 2^nd Crystal Point Star Trek Group – Teaching this group how make no sew fleece blankets as a Community Service project !!!!

1:00- Millcreek Mall Library Branch Erie, PA

April 9th

Please join NWPA Project Linus on Saturday April 9^th for our Annual “Appreciation Day” @ Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing 801 W.26^th Street, Erie, PA

 Time: 10:00-2:00. There will be refreshments, drawings on the half hour, blanket making material and patterns for you to choose from to perhaps finish or start a new blanket for a child in need. Also a time to meet other Blanketeers and share your ideas.

April 16^th

Make a Blanket Day @ Zanadu Fabric, Yarn & Craft Store 105 N Farley Street, Kane, Pa

Time: 10:00-3:00. There will be a few easy and fun quilt pattern demos. Also a drawing at the end of the day from the names of blanketeers that have dropped off blankets for this Make a Blanket Day. Looking forward to a great day of meeting new Blanketeers and catching up with ladies that we have met in the past.

April 21st –

Announcing a *NEW* Project Linus – drop off location and monthly meeting site !!!!

“Soup & Sew” at Doug Yaple’s Vacuum Cleaner Center 1815 E. 38^th Street ( across from JoAnna O’Connel School)

Time: 10:00-2:00- Bring your sewing machines and an appetite for a fun time of gathering to make blankets for children in need. There will be sewing kits on hand as well as a few demos.

April 30^th

Annual Spring “ Sew In” @ Hampton Inn 8050 Old Oliver Road Erie, PA

Time : 10:00-4:00–if you are coming to this event for the first time you will need the following:  Sewing Machine, All of your own Notions. If anyone has a small portable ironing board, Iron, cutting board, rotary cutter, please bring them with you.

Or you can come to knit or crochet for the day as well. So bring your knitting needles or crochet

The Meeting Room is on the first floor and we have access to the Hotel Baggage Carts to bring in our supplies.

We will provide the following:  Sewing Kits, (several different patterns)  

 Lunch, Beverages, and snacks.

April 30^th

North East Community Fair- North East Grade School

Time: 10:00-2:00 – NWPA Project Linus will be represented at this Fair. The children will be coloring our Muslin squares that will then be made into quilts.

ODDS & ENDS:

-        A Blanketeer has requested if anyone has some of those older panels with characters on them and are not using them, or sees them during the Garage Sale Season to get them and contact me. We can make arrangements for pick up and reimbursement.

-        UPMC Hamot NICU has an ongoing need of gently used receiving blankets- store bought, that they use to support the tiny heads of the infants in their carriers. They can be dropped off at all of our local drop off locations.

REMINDERS:

-        When you complete you blanket, please check to make sure that there are no pins left behind.

-        In making a fleece blanket- cut the 2 salvage sides of the material before you start to cut your strips for tying or before you use your skip stitch blade and crochet around the fleece.

-        In the upcoming months our calendar is a bit full of fun activities, if you are interested in helping with any of these events, please let me know.

With all of the fun events that are coming up, many of you Blanketeers have responded to my request of assistance in cutting the several bolts of muslin needed to be prepared for those events. Still more help is needed and as I have the muslin ready, I will let you ladies know. Thank you so very much.

Monthly meetings:

April 6^th -      Millcreek Sewing Center                         6044 Peach Street       1:00pm- 4:00pm  

April 11th -   Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing                      801 W. 26^th Street       9:00am-11:00am

April 21^st -     Doug Yaple’s Vacuum                   1815 E. 38^th Street   10:00am- 2:00pm

Looking Ahead:

July 27^th-                     Senior Day @ the Erie Zoo

August 9^th-                  Erie Gives

August 19^th-21^st -      Celebrate Erie

 This year I will try to get information out 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

814-864-9389    814-392-5583

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

March 2016 Newsletter

                                                           

March, 2016

Hello Blanketeers,                                                                            

A huge shout out and thank you to all of our Quilt Shoppe’s and Blanketeers for their generosity and outstanding response to National Make a Blanket Day. Without all of your continued support, we would not be able to deliver nearly 200 plus blankets to our 3 local hospitals and countless agencies that service children in our area on a monthly basis. This saying keeps swirling around in my mind, yet it is so true: “ It takes a Village”…………………………..Our Blanketeers are a true testament to that statement. Thank you, thank you.

As we are coming closer to Spring, and Spring cleaning, we can always use pieces and parts of material and yarn. So if you might be going through your stash, please keep Project Linus in mind. Blankets made from a little bit of this and that can be the most cheery and bright for a child.

ODDS & ENDS:

-        It’s that time of year again for cutting muslin and tracing the squares. If anyone is interested, please contact me and I will get to you the supplies.

REMINDERS:

-        When you complete you blanket, please check to make sure that there are no pins left behind.

-        In making a fleece blanket- cut the 2 salvage sides of the material before you start to cut your strips for tying or before you use your skip stitch blade and crochet around the fleece.

-        In the upcoming months our calendar is a bit full of fun activities, if you are interested in helping with any of these events, please let me know.

Monthly meetings:

March 2nd  -    Millcreek Sewing Center               6044 Peach Street      1:00pm- 4:00pm  

March 14th -   Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing             801 W. 26^th Street      9:00am-11:00am

                           Note that our monthly meeting is at its very latest monthly date

Looking Ahead:

April 9^th –                 Appreciation Day- Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing    10:00-2:00

April 16^th-                 Apreiciation Day-  Zanadu Fabric Yarn & Craft  10:00-3:00   Kane, PA

                                 “ Sew In Day” @ Hampton Inn                                10:00-4:00   * Date to be determined*

July 27^th-                   Senior Day @ the Erie Zoo                                     10:00-2:00

August 9^th-               Erie Gives

August 19^th-21^st-     Celebrate Erie

 This year I will try to get information out 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

814-864-9389    814-392-5583

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

National Make a Blanket Day reminder

National Make a Blanket Day Reminder 2-20-16

We haven’t had nearly the bad winter as the past few to keep us inside, but

hopefully  everyone has been busy making blankets now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over. Here is a list of the participating Quilt Shoppe’s and Church for our upcoming day.

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

Blankets can be dropped off between 10:00-3:00 with a Drawing @ 3:00

Millcreek Sewing – 6044 Peach Street  

“Sew In”- We will have sewing kits to already for you blanketeers , 1:00-4:00 Drawing @ 4:00      

 

*Super Stitch* -55 West Main Street- North East “ Sew In” New this year, sewing kits will be provided, bring your sewing machine and supplies.             10:00-3:00 Drawing @3:00

Fox’s Sew & Vac Sales and Service -Downtown Mall – Meadville PA  Blankets can be dropped off between 10:00-3:00 , with a Drawing @ 3:00

Zanadu Fabric, Yarn & Crafts – Saturday April 16^th

105 N. Fraley Street,  Kane  PA (814) 561-1047 – 10:00-5:00

Zanadu Fabric, Yarn & Crafts Face Book Page for further information about the fun day the girls have planned.

St. Michael’s Church -85 North High Street, Greenville, PA   11:00-3:00  A “ Sew In “ Day.

If you have any questions, please contact JoAnn Burkhart @ 1-814-864-9389 or 814-392-5583 nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

Stay warm,

JoAnn Burkhart

Coordinator- NWPA Project Linus

February Newsletter

February, 2016

Hello Blanketeers,    

This information 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! 

NWPA National Make a Blanket Day Schedule is as follows:

                                                                      

Kelly’s Sewing Corner- 3330 W.26^th Street (Village West)                         10:00-3:00

Millcreek Sewing – 6044 Peach Street                                                           1:00-4:00

Super Stitch -55 West Main Street- North East                                            10:00-3:00

Fox’s Sew & Vac Sales and Service Downtown Mall – Meadville PA        10:00-3:00

St. Michael’s Church- Greenville, PA                                                              11:00- 3:00

Zanadu Fabric, Yarn & Crafts -105 N. Fraley Street, Kane  PA (814) 561-1047 – 10:00-4:00

                                                                                                                           Saturday April 16th

In the next month or so I will be in need of our wonderful blanketeers to again help with the cutting, tracing of the muslin as we prepare for our upcoming summer events. Several bolts of muslin need to be prepared for those events. As I have the muslin ready, I will let you ladies know.

Monthly meetings:

February 3^rd-        Millcreek Sewing Center               6044 Peach Street      1:00pm- 4:00pm ( regular meeting )

February 8th -      Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing               801 W. 26^th Street       9:00am-11:00am,

Odds and Ends:

Spring “ Sew In Day” at the Hampton Inn date is pending at this time. Possible dates end of April or early May.

Reminders: Please leave your contact information as you drop of your blankets, so that we can send out a note of appreciation.

Looking Ahead:

February 20^th            -National Make a Blanket Day-

April 9th         –           Appreciation Day- Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing 10:00-2:00

July 27^th-                     Senior Day at the Erie Zoo

August 9^th-                  Erie Gives

August 19^th-21^st-       Celebrate Erie

 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

1-814-864-9389

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

NWPA Project Linus    FaceBook

nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com    

National Make Blanket Day is coming

Saturday February 20th. 

Kelly's Sewing Corner
Millcreek Sewing
Super Stitch
Fox's Sewing
St. Michael's ( Greenville)

More info to follow soon !!!!!

A day to come together and make blankets at some of our locations or drop off completed blankets.
A day to make a difference for a child in need in our Communities. Especially during these cold winter months
A day for our Blanketeers to meet and spend time together exchanging ideas.
A blanket that is quilted, knitted, crocheted, or fleece tied, is like a warm hug to a child that is going through a trying time.

Letter to the Editor - Erie Times News

Letter to the Editor- Erie Times News

Thanks to volunteers and supporters of NWPA Project Linus:

The NWPA Chapter of Project Linus would like to thank our many volunteers (blanketeers!) and supporters for all of their time and efforts throughout 2015. We gave out over 3,000 blankets in 2015, and more than 35,000 in the last 15 years.

Our mission is to provide the comfort of a new handmade blanket to children in traumatic situations, due to illness, emergency situations, or other challenging events. Our blankets are distributed locally to Millcreek Community Hospital, St. Vincent Health Center, UPMC Hamot Hospital. Camp Corral ( @ Camp Fitch), Office of Children and Youth Services, Safenet, Crime Victim Center and many other agencies that provide a much needed service to children in need.

Our volunteers donate countless hours creating beautiful quilts, afghans and fleece blankets so that kids can have a warm hug. We would also like to thank Kohl’s for grants that support our mission, allowing us to purchase supplies. A huge Thanks also goes out to many local Quilt Shoppe’s ( Yaple’s Sewing & Vacuum, Kelly’s Sewing Corner, Millcreek Sewing, Secret Squirrel, Super Stitch, Fox’s Sew & Vac, The Gallery of Fabric and Zanadu Fabric Yarn and Craft. ) that open their doors for monthly meetings and drop off locations.

For more information about Project Linus, see- www.projectlinus.org or www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com, like us on Facebook (NWPA Project Linus), or contact us at nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com .

Thank you to all in the Tri-State area who support us.

JoAnn Burkhart, CHAPTER COORDINATOR, erie,pa