138

TOTAL BLANKETS DISTRIBUTED JUNE – SEPTEMBER 2025

149

TOTAL BLANKETS DISTRIBUTED BY THIS CHAPTER

50, 963

Blanket Day Saturday, October 18, 2025

Hello Blanketeers! Thanks to EVERYONE who was able to attend Saturday’s Blanket Day and make it such a wonderful day!! We had 48 people attend and finished the day with 260 new blankets for children in the New River Valley!! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and new faces as well! Thanks to each of you for all that you do to support New River Valley-Radford Project Linus!!

We especially appreciate those who contributed food for a fantastic potluck lunch and the hard work of our two kitchen angels, Meg W. and Terry M.! We simply would not be able to have Blanket Day without those two wonderful ladies! We also owe a huge THANK YOU to members of the Virginia Tech Project Linus Club who helped with setup and take down on Friday and Saturday! They lifted tables and chairs and helped get the blankets and supplies back to Penny’s house. What a wonderful group of outstanding young men! We also had much-appreciated help from two Radford High School students and from some of our regular Blanket Day helpers. We appreciate each of you more than you know!

Sincerely,

Penny Sweet, chapter coordinator

Laura Eanes, assistant

Blanket Drop Off Locations

If you are interested in contributing blankets to our chapter you can bring completed blankets to any Blanket Day or drop off at the following locations. You should see a bin or box labeled Project Linus. The following locations have generously agreed to be drop off points for Project Linus Blankets. Please make sure each of your blankets have the name of the donor! Also please include your address; some recipients like to send thank-you notes for their blanket!

Sew Biz

(540) 639-1138 7327 Peppers Ferry Blvd., Suite A, Fairlawn, VA

Monday-Friday: 10am – 6pm

Saturday: 10am – 5pm

Radford Public Library (Front Desk)

(540) 731-3621 30 West Main Street, Radford, VA

Monday-Thursday: 9am – 8pm

Friday-Saturday: 10am – 5pm

Volunteer Montgomery

(540) 382-5775 210 S. Pepper St., Ste. D, Christiansburg, VA

Monday-Friday: 9am – 4pm

Would you like some Project Linus Swag?

Visit the Project Linus store

for shirts, blankets/quilt patterns, cards and pens, clothing, skip-stich blades and tote bags.

Who Receives Our Blankets?

Blankets are distributed to a variety of locations in the New River Valley. Sheriff’s Departments and local police departments carry blankets with them to provide comfort to children in crises situations. Fire departments have blankets to distribute in times of need. Social services distributes blankets to children who have to be relocated on an emergency basis. Local hospitals distribute blankets to children who have received outpatient surgical departments. Blankets are given to children who have parents deployed in the line of duty. We also contribute to national disasters, such as hurricanes, fires, and other emergency situations when many children are affected.

In addition to responding to emergency situations, we also make weighted blankets (upon request) for children in need.

What are the “requirements” of a blanket?

Blankets Need to be “Homemade”

When we say “homemade”, we mean something that is not commercially manufactured or purchased. Of course, home sewing machines, knitting machines, etc. are fine. It has always been the mission of Project Linus to donate only new handmade blankets. We receive thousands of letters and thank you notes every year from children.

What Types of Blankets does Project Linus Accept?

Our Chapter Coordinators accept NEW HANDMADE, WASHABLE, blankets and afghans for giving to children ages 0-18 years. Project Linus blankets are not donated to adults. As a national policy we accept all sizes and styles, although some chapters may have more narrow requirements based on the needs of the facilities to which they donate. Project Linus blankets must be of excellent quality and free from contaminants. Special care should be taken to ensure that blankets are free of smoky smells or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child. Ensure that blankets are free of pet or animal hair. Hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will most likely be discarded. Recent studies show that laundering these blankets does not remove contamination, and in some cases can even make it worse. Always check blankets carefully for pins, and remove any embellishments such as buttons that could be swallowed.

What About Sizes?

Project Linus donates blankets to children, infants through teens. Many blanket sizes are appropriate, depending on the needs of your chapter and the organizations it supports. For example, blankets could be as small as 36″ x 36″. The majority of Project Linus blankets are about 40″ x 60″, or what is called ‘crib size’. Blankets can be as large as twin size for teens. Local Chapters may have certain preferences depending on the facilities to which they donate. Visit the ‘Find Chapters’ page on www.projectlinus.org to locate contact information for your local Project Linus Chapter so that you can ask about specific current needs.

Now that JoAnn Fabric has closed, here are some other options people have found helpful

For Fabric: www.thousandsofbolts.com, www.marshalldrygoods.com

For thread and scissors: www.wawak.com

Other useful sites: www.fleece-fabric.com code LINUS2025. The contact is Stan 646-727-8361. Current prices: now offering 10 and 22 yard bolts with free shipping for 40 yard or higher orders. Pricing as follows: Anti-pill printed fleece in 10 yard bolts at $5.99/yard and 22 yard bolts at $5.63/yard. Anti-pill solid fleece in 10 yard bolts at $5.90/yard and in 22 yard bolts at 5.54/yard. Double brush printed fleece in 22 yard bolts at $5.76/yard. Double brush solid fleece in 22 yard bolts at $5.40 yard. Consider doing a group order with your friends or blanket-making groups!

www.yourfleece.com is another source

Yarn: www.lionbrand.com Our contact person is Lori.Naidich@lionbrandyarn.com. Contact her for a price sheet. There may be a minimum order.

Need Pattern ideas?

The Project Linus website contains patterns, challenges and additional information about the organization. www.projectlinus.org

Click here to go to NRV Project Linus pattern page or visit the projectlinus.org website

NATIONAL PROJECT LINUS

MISSION STATEMENT Project Linus is a volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission:

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 rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children. Anyone, any age, can help these children. It is within your power to make a difference. Nearly 400 chapters of Project Linus exist nationally, with more than 10 million blankets donated to children.