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

January 2016 Newsletter

                                                           

January, 2016

Happy New Year Blanketeers,    

                                                                        

Thank you again for an awesome 2015, with over 3,000 blankets donated and delivered to:

 Agencies: Office of Children and Youth Services, Community Shelter Services, Crime Victim Center, Safe Start, SafeNet, Women’s Care Centers, International Institute, Refuge Homeless Shelter, Sarah Reed Children’s Home, Children’s Advocacy Center and many many more…………………

Including our 3 local Hospitals, ( UPMC Hamot Hospital, St. Vincent Health Center and Millcreek Community Hospital) in their NICU, Maternity and Pediatric Units , that many children in need were comforted. We can only hope that 2016 will be filled with Blanketeers once again being so caring and generous.

I am reposting last year’s portion of the newsletter stating what makes a Blanket a Project Linus Blanket. It is very important information regarding our NWPA Project Linus Chapter.

Throughout this past year on several occasions in one way or another I have been asked “ What makes a blanket a Project Linus blanket”. Here is the answer defined by Project Linus:

                                                                 

1.    A new handmade blanket that is quilted, knitted, crocheted, or fleece tied

2.    A blanket that has been turned into one of our many local drop off locations

3.    A blanket that has had a Project Linus label sewn onto it and a Project Linus hang tag pinned to it

4.    A blanket that has been logged into our NWPA Project Linus Chapter for verification

5.    A blanket that has been logged out THROUGH NWPA Project Linus to an Agency or Hospital also verified

We are required by Project Linus National Headquarters to provide them a quarterly and annual report of all blankets In and Out. This is also required in order to maintain our Non-Profit 501C3 status.

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

Erie County:

Joann Burkhart- NWPA Project Linus Coordinator -1446 Patterson Ave Erie, PA 16508  1-814-864-9389  

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

Yaple’s – 801 W. 26^th Street, Erie PA                                Marie Bissell - ( Lake City) 1-814-774-4884

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

Millcreek Sewing – 6044 Peach Street            Super Stitch -55 West Main Street- North East

Crawford County:

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

Warren County:

Ronnieanne Walters – 1-814-723-5408     Super Stitch 2 -113 Market Street Warren PA

Mercer County:

Linda Hajtol – 1-724-588-3289        The Gallery of Fabric- 116 N. Pitt Street  Mercer  PA

McKean County:

Zanadu Fabric, Yarn & Crafts -105 N. Fraley Street  Kane  PA

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

So if blankets are being given in the name of Project Linus and our numbers are incorrect, it could seriously put our local Chapter at risk.

That being said, blankets being given to children in need independently is certainly a wonderful deed.

Monthly meetings:

January  -         Millcreek Sewing Center               6044 Peach Street   NO MEETING THIS MONTH   

January 11^th -   Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing            801 W. 26^th Street       9:00a.m.-11:00a.m.

National Make a Blanket Day- February 20^st 2016, here is a list of the Stores or Quilt Shoppes that are participating this year:

·       Fox’s Sew & Vac -                      Meadville

·       Millcreek Sewing Center –       Erie  “ Sew In” 1:00- 4:00

·       Kelly’s Sewing Corner -             Erie

·       Super Stitch -                              North East –  “ Sew In” 10:00- 2:00  *NEW*

·       Zanadu-Fabric,Yarn & Crafts – Kane, PA – April 16^th – 10:30- 2:30 “ Sew In”

Odds and Ends:

I have been asked to relate stories of children receiving blankets and how they react to them. Unfortunately due to HIPPA Laws we are unable to directly give a child a blanket. Very often when we deliver blankets to an Agency, we ring a bell and a door is open a crack and we give the attendant the bag of blankets. Occasionally, we might be told that the blankets are a big help to the children, or that the blankets are the only warmth for a new baby.  

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

 This year I will try to get information out via Facebook 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

814-864-9389    814-392-5583 (c)

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com