February Newsletter

                                                          

February, 2019

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! 

We are looking forward to a very successful Make a Blanket Day, please come out and support us.

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

Drop off location

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

“Sew In”- kits provided

Super Stitch -10429 W Main Street- North East                                           10:00-3:00

“Sew In’ – Bring your sewing machine, kits will be provided

Please enter at the back of the store for this event

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

Drop off location

St. Michael’s Church- 76 North High Street, Greenville, PA                       10:00- 3:00

“Sew In” –Bring your sewing machine, kits will be provided

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

“Sew In”- kits will be provided

Lafaro Insurance Agency @ 4627 Peach Street:

 has asked to be a drop off location from now and until National Make a Blanket Day on Saturday February 16^th. They are open from 8:30- 5:00 daily. As Always, please leave your contact information with the blankets that you are dropping off, so that we know how has donated them.

Monthly meetings:

February 6^th -        Millcreek Sewing Center               6044 Peach Street      1:00pm- 4:00pm ( regular meeting )

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

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

Correction to Newspaper article :

-        Doug Yaple’s Vacuum @ 1815 E. 38^th Street will be a “ Sew In” location for National Make a Blanket Day on February 16^th - in error it was omitted from the article. All of the information was submitted to Matthew Rink of the Times News. We are so very grateful for all of our stores and Quilt Shoppes that support our organization, without their support, it would be very difficult to further our mission. Thank you for all that you do !!!

Odds and Ends: 

Remember that you only have until February 4^th to order Project Linus T-Shirts, ¾ length T-Shirts and Sweats Shirts. Go to www.projectlinus.org at the top of the page is the Store tab, then go into Clothing. These will go on sale 4 times this year for a 2 week period.

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 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 TRIM the 2 SELVAGE SIDES, then from there you have options in how you wish to tie your blanket.

             

                                                           

Looking Ahead:

February 16^th            -National Make a Blanket Day-

July 31^st-                     Senior Day at the Erie Zoo

August 13^th-               Erie Gives

August 16^th-18^th         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
Coordinator- NWPA Project Linus
1-814-392-5583

Project Linus T- Shirts

                                                                                          

     

They're finally here !!!! T-Shirts, Sweat Shirts and even 3/4 length T- Shirts. From now and until February 4th you can go to the Project Linus site at : Projectlinus.org and purchase these items. At the top of the site, click on to the store tab, then clothing.These will be available 4 times a year directly from the manufacturer. Very reasonable prices.

January Newsletter

January, 2019

Happy New Year Blanketeers,                                                                            

I need to apologize for the lateness of this Newsletter. On Christmas Eve my laptop was accidentally dropped onto the floor and crashed apart. Best Buy and their Geek Squad have helped me with getting a new laptop and transferring my data. But as you know a new product takes time to get used to. With that being said, I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and 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 2018:

Office of Children and Youth Services, Community Shelter Services, Crime Victim Center, Bair Foster Foundation, Bethesda Foundation, Safe Start, SafeNet, Women’s Care Centers, Nurse Family Partnership, Title 5, International Institute, Refuge Homeless Shelter, Sarah Reed Children’s Home, Children’s Advocacy Center, Including our 3 local Hospitals, ( UPMC Hamot Hospital, St. Vincent Health Center and Millcreek Community Hospital) in their NICU, Maternity and Pediatric Units and many many more…………………a complete listing can be found on our web page –

www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com

We can only hope that 2019 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

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 -10429 W Main Street- North East

JoAnn Fabric’s- 7200 Peach Street

Nature’s Fabrics – 11530 Eureka Rd. - Edinboro

Crawford County:

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

Jo Ann Fabric’s 18921 Park Ave Plaza  Meadville Pa

Warren County:

Ronnieanne Walters – 1-814-723-5408    

Mercer County:

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

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

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

Monthly meetings:

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

January 14^th -   Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing            801 W. 26^th Street       9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

January 17^th     Doug Yaple’s Vacuum                    1815 E. 38^th Street      10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

National Make a Blanket Day- February 16^st 2019, here is a list of the Stores or Quilt Shoppes that are participating this year: Join us for a fun time that will help a child in need. The locations that will be having “ Sew In” will provide sewing kits. The other locations are for drop offs.

• Fox’s Sew & Vac -                      Meadville 9:30- 3:00 Drop off
• Millcreek Sewing Center –       Erie “ Sew In” 1:00- 4:00
• Kelly’s Sewing Corner -             Erie 10:00-3:00 Drop off
• Super Stitch -                              North East – “ Sew In” 10:00- 2:00 
• Doug Yaple’s Vacuum               Erie – “ Sew In” 10:00-2:00

Odds and Ends:

-If you have a Scout Troop, Club, Student needing Service hours or Church group that would like to make No-Sew Fleece blankets, please contact me prior to your event. I will be glad to send out the blanket making directions and requirements.

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

Reminders:

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

- When knitting or crocheting an afghan 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.

Looking Ahead:

February 16^th        - National Make a Blanket Day

July 31^st                  - Senior Day @ Erie Zoo

August 13^th            - Erie Gives Day

August 16^th- 18^th   - Celebrate Erie

• 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   1-814-392-5583

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

NWPA Project Linus    FaceBook

nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com   

December Newsletter

December, 2018

Hello Blanketeers,                                                                               

Once again as many of you begin or have begun to shop on line this holiday season, I would like to remind you about the Amazon Smile Foundation that will donate .05% of your purchase to the charity of your choice. Linus Project is one of almost a million charitable organizations that has been registered and qualifies for this fantastic opportunity. The process is a one time set up-and very easy to follow.

 To date we have delivered  over 45,000 blankets in our 20 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 meet 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.

February 16, 2019

·        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…

·       An opportunity for Blanketeers to get together and meet one another

·       An opportunity for Blanketeers to share their ideas of blanket patterns

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

·        There will be “Sew In’s” or drop off locations in the next newsletter.

Monthly meetings:

December 5th - Millcreek Sewing Center               6044 Peach Street      1:00pm- 4:00pm

December 10^th - Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing            801 W. 26^th Street      9:00am-11:00am

December 20^th -  Doug Yaple’s Vacuum                  1815 E. 38th Street     10:00am- 2:00pm

ODDS & ENDS:  

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

  Basic and Approximate Guidelines 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

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 Blanket we recommend at least 1 ½ to 2 yards of fabric. And most important, before you start to cut the strips that FIRST you TRIM the 2 SELVAGE SIDES, then from there you have options in how you wish to tie your blanket.

Looking Ahead:

 February 16^th, 2019-       National Make a Blanket Day

July 31^st ,2019                 Senior Day @ Erie Zoo

August 13^th , 2019           Erie Gives

August 16^th  -18^th 2019    Celebrate Erie

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.nwpaprojectlinusblogspot.com- is our web page

Warmly, 

November Sew In At Millcreek Sewing cancelled

Our Sew In at Millcreek Sewing on Wednesday November 7th will be cancelled. Please join NWPA Project Linus on Wednesday December 5th from 1:00 - 4:00for an afternoon of blanket making.
Sorry for the change.

November Newsletter

November 2018

Hello Blanketeers,

We have 2 special Thank you’s to send out :

A huge Thank you to all of our wonderful “ Blanketeers” that continually make it possible for our Chapter to deliver over 200 blankets a month to hospitals, shelters, and service agencies that provide comfort and aid to children in need in our  community.

The second Thank you is to Super Stitch, North East for hosting our “ Fall Sew-In” on October 20^th. We had our largest turnout to date. 14 blanketeers came out to sew for the day. Some Blanketeers came from as far away as Greenville. The new classroom at Super Stitch North East was awesome.

Odds & Ends: 

Millcreek Sewing ( 6044 Peach Street) hosts a monthly Sew –In on the first Wednesday of every month from 1:00-4:00. They provide the sewing machines and NWPA Project Linus provides the sewing kits. Stop by and sew awhile.

REMINDERS:   If there are any groups that are interested in making fleece blankets as a Service project, please contact me so that I can email you directions for single and double layer fleece blankets.

Monthly meetings

November 7th         -       Millcreek Sewing                   6044 Peach Street        1:00pm- 4:00 pm

                                   

November 12th    -          Yaple’s Vacuum & Sewing     801 W. 26^th Street        9:00 am-11:00 am

November 15^th     -          Doug Yaple Vacuum             1815 E. 38^th Street        10:00am- 2:00pm

Looking Ahead:

February 16^th, 2019-  National Make a Blanket Day

February 22^nd 2019 – Art Day at Our Lady of Peace

July 31^st , 2019           Senior Day @ Zoo

August 13^th, 2019       Erie Gives

August 16-18^th2019    Celebrate Erie

 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

1-814-864-9389 1-814-392-5583 (C)

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

NWPA Project Linus    FaceBook

nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com