May Newsletter

 

   

May , 2023

Hello  Blanketeers,

Once again we are looking forward to seeing many of our Blanketeers at our “Kit Pick Up Day” , Wednesday May 17th from 10:00-2:00, at 1446 Patterson Ave , Erie , PA.

There will be several different types of sewing kits, fleece and yarn available for our Blanketeers to make Project Linus Blankets. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Blanketeers to obtain materials to make blankets for children in need in our community.

 We would like to Thank the Gannon University Women's Basketball and Cross Country teams along with the Erie Catholic School System for the opportunity to bring awareness of the need for warm home made blankets and made 600 for our community. Also, to Thank the many volunteers that helped to prepare the blankets for the students.

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday August 8^{th h}- Erie Gives 2023

 NWPA Project Linus has a very unique opportunity to take part in this one day Erie Gives on Tuesday August 10th from 8:00am – 8:00pm @ Eriegives.org . We qualify and are registered for this event. This will be our 9^th year participating in this local fund raiser.

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 a record breaking 8.1 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:

          

8th- Coordinator’s home            1446 Patterson Ave          CANCELLED

          18th Doug Yaple’s Vacuum Center-  1851 E. 38^th Street       CANCELLED

        

Looking Ahead:

 

May 17^th -            Kit Pick up Day 10:00-2:00

 

August 8^th-           Erie Gives Day

                                                                                                              

ODDS & ENDS:

 

-        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. 

-        Project Linus’ mission statement is that we provide new handmade blankets to children in need. We are unable to accept gently used blankets or store made blankets.

-        If you have these types of blankets, there are organizations that would gladly receive them.

-        Shelters, Salvation Army, Women’s Care Centers to name a few.

REMINDERS:

·       If blankets are coming from a home that someone smokes in, or has anaimals that may be around your project, we ask that these blankets be laundered with scent free detergent for the safety of the children receiving them, that may have respiratory  issues.

·       The same applies with storing or bagging blankets, that they are not stored in scented bags or have used scented fabric softener. We know that they leave a pretty scent, but for our kids, it may not be healthful for them.

·       VERY IMPORTANT- Please remove the 2 selvages sides of fleece prior to cutting the strips for tying. We receive many blankets that have the selvage on the blankets that need to be trimmed before we can give that blanket to a child in need. Your help is greatly appreciated.

·       We would gladly come to your church group, Scout group or organization and give instruction on how to make single layer fleece blankets. Contact JoAnn Burkhart 1-814-392-5583

 

 Follow us on Facebook for updates. 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

Crawford County New drop off location

**** NWPA Project Linus Would like to welcome a new drop off location in Crawford County****

Sew Frannetastic

12220 Lakeview Dr

Conneaut Lake, PA

Open:

Friday 12:00-4:00 Saturday 10:00-4:00

Thank you Frann for becoming one of our drop off locations.

April Newsletter

 

 

                                                        

April, 2023 

Welcome Spring Blanketeers,                                                                             

Hope this Newsletter will find all of our wonderful “ Blanketeers” enjoying our mild winter. 

If you are Spring cleaning your craft or Sewing room, please keep NWPA Project Linus in mind, We are always happy to receive pieces and parts of cotton material, yarn or fleece. They make for very cheery and fun blankets. 

 Mark your calendars for Wednesday May 17^th, as we will be having a “ Kit pick up day”. From 10:00-2:00 at 1446 Patterson Ave. ( Coordinator’s home). There will be many types of kits, fleece and yarn for making Project Linus blankets. Plenty of off Street parking. 

ODDS & ENDS: 

• There is still a need for boy blankets of all types and sizes. When we deliver blankets, we always try to put a mix of boy and girl blankets, so that the hospital or agency has a variety to pass out to their patients or clients. 
• Our blankets need to be kid safe and friendly, so , no buttons, ribbons or long fringe. And as always, please check for pins.  
•  

REMINDERS: 

• Please be cautious of the crochet or knitted patterns, along with the type of yarn and needle size, so that the finished afghan doesn’t have too big of “holes” in it or too loose. It was brought to my attention that “Little fingers” can become entwined in them or caught on hospital equipment. If you are making an afghan for an older child, then most patterns will be fine.            

 

• Due to children’s unknown allergies, Respiratory issues and sensitivities please be cautious of perfumes, dryer sheets, fabric softeners and scented bags in regards to making, storing blanket making material or dropping off a blanket. These are things that we may not even think of that could set off a medical situation for a child.  

Monthly meetings:  

April  20^th   -    Doug Yaple’s Vacuum                             1815 E. 38^th Street       Cancelled 

Looking Ahead:  

 

May 17^th-                    Kit Pick up day  

 

August 8^th-                 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

1-814-864-9389   1-814-392-5583

nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

NWPA Project Linus    FaceBook

nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com    

March 2023 Newsletter

 

            

                                              

March, 2023

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 kinds

As promised from last months Newsletter we have another wonderful announcement to make:

After several month and many Zoom meetings with Erie Insurance of Erie last year, they have created “ The Blue Blanket Drive”. This Drive has now gone Company wide in 12 States. Each area will receive new handmade blankets. All employees have been given information regarding Chapters and drop off locations in their area. This is a win/win for so many children in need in many communities.

A very grateful “Thank You” goes to Darren Troutman of Erie Insurance who has facilitated this huge project from the beginning, that started last Spring. Darren had made inquiries to NWPA Project Linus about blankets and our needs. What followed was an amazing path of introducing his fellow associates to NWPA Project Linus.

 

Save the date: May 17^th for Kit pick up. More info to follow

 

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.

 

 **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.**

 

Monthly meetings:

March 16^th-     Doug Yaple’s Vacuum                       1815 E. 38^th Street       NO MONTHLY MEETING

Looking Ahead:

 

May 17^th, 2022  Kit pick up

 

August 8^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 Newdletter

 

                                                          

February, 2023

Hello Blanketeers,    

NWPA Project Linus would like to announce a wonderful collaboration with the Erie Catholic School System and the Gannon University Women’s Basketball team. We are prepping 600 fleece blankets that the students of the 6 elementary schools will make for children in need in our community.

On Monday February 6^th, this collaboration will be announced at the 5:30 Women’s basketball game at the Highmark Event Center (620 Peach Street). All are welcome to come out to the game to cheer on the Gannon Women’s Basketball team VS. Pitt- Johnstown.

We have another fantastic announcement coming soon in an upcoming newsletter…..

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 us.

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

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

JoAnn Fabrics -7200 Peach Street  Erie                                                           9:00- 7:00

Lafaro Insurance Agency 4627 Peach Street Erie  ( M-F)                             8:30-5:00

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

JoAnn Fabrics - 18921 Park Ave Plaza  Meadville                                         9:00-7:00

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

Doug Yaple’s West    2301 W. 12th                                                                 10:00-2:00

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

JoAnn Fabrics   2481 E. State Street    Hermitage ,PA                                   9:00-7:00

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

 

Monthly meetings:

February 16^th -       Doug Yaple’s Vacuum                    1815 E. 38^th Street         No Meeting

 

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 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 still receive 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 18^th            -National Make a Blanket Day

August 8^th-                 Erie Gives

 

 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