Welcome to Project Linus

HOW PROJECT LINUS BEGAN

On Christmas Eve, 1995, an article titled “Joy to the World” appeared in Parade Magazine. It was written by Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, Eddie Adams. Part of the article featured a petite, downy-haired child named Laura. Adams wrote:


“Laura has unusual compassion for others,” Charlotte Barry-Williams of Oceanside, California, says of her daughter, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. “I guess part of the reason is that she has experienced so much pain herself.”


A special “blankie” has helped Laura, 3, get through more than two years of intensive chemotherapy. She takes it to the hospital with her when she goes for treatment. When she was first diagnosed, 97 percent of her bone marrow contained cancerous cells. Although chemotherapy has helped eradicate the cancer, she has had to endure nausea, high fevers and the loss of her hair. An allergic reaction at one point caused her to lose vital signs.


“She doesn’t understand what cancer means,” her mother says. “She’s a very joyous and happy person, very curious.” Her mother hopes Laura can start preschool next  spring.


After reading the article, Karen Loucks decided to  help other children by providing homemade security blankets to Denver's Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center, and Project Linus was born.  We now have almost 300 chapters nationwide.



PROJECT LINUS HAS A TWO-FOLD MISSION

1)  To provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gift of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

2)  To provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.


Anyone, whatever their age, can help these children. It is within your power to make a difference!
 
Is your group or organization looking for a service project? We can give you tips on how to organize a fun and successful blanket-making day. To see how we can help, simply send an email to coordinator@gtcaprojectlinus.org.

If you are not in the Greater Twin Cities area, please visit Project Linus Headquarters (PLHQ) at www.projectlinus.org or call PLHQ at (309) 585-0686 to find a chapter in your area.


Welcome to Project Linus!
— Karen D'Aloia, GTCA Chapter Coordinator


BECOME A PROJECT LINUS BLANKETEER!

Project Linus blanketeers provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, from newborns to the age of 18.

All blanket styles are needed in 
KID-FRIENDLY PRINTS &
COLORS — quilts, comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, receiving blankets, and 36" x 45" cotton sheets for PICUs.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT TO MAKE A BLANKET THAT IS BEAUTIFUL TO A CHILD.

Look at our Blanket Specifications to see examples of blanket types we accept.

ABOUT THE GREATER TWIN CITIES AREA CHAPTER

The GTCA chapter of Project Linus is part of the national Project Linus organization. It was established in July 2006 and serves the Minnesota counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright, along with western Wisconsin.

"Life is so lonely without a LINUS blanket hug..."
GCTA Club Linus February 2011
Greater Twin Cities Area Chapter of Project Linus (February 2011)


WHERE HAVE ALL OUR  BLANKETS GONE?

The GTCA Chapter has donated more than 65,000 blankets to a wide variety of hospitals and social service agencies. In 2018, these have included:
  • Brooklyn Avenues (Brooklyn Park)
  • Community Action Partnership (Hennepin County)
  • Community Action Partnership (Ramsey & Washington Counties)
  • Community Emergency Assistance Programs (Brooklyn Park)
  • Foster the Love (metro counties)
  • Fostering Love (metro counties)
  • Gillette Children's Hospital (St. Paul)
  • Headway Emotional Health (Richfield)
  • Mary's Place (Sharing & Caring Hands) (Minneapolis)
  • Minneapolis American Indian Center (Minneapolis)
  • Minneapolis Children's Hospital (Minneapolis)
  • North Memorial Hospital (Maple Grove and Robbinsdale)
  • Pinky Swear Foundation (Bloomington)
  • PrairieCare (Maple Grove)
  • Project Child (Minneapolis)
  • Ronald McDonald House (Minneapolis)
  • Shriners Hospital (Minneapolis)
  • Snowball Express and TAPS (camps for children of fallen military members)
  • St. David's Center (Minnetonka)
  • St. Paul Children's Hospital (St. Paul)
  • TreeHouse Youth (8 locations)
  • University of Minnesota Health Maple Grove Clinics (Maple Grove)
  • University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital (Minneapolis)
  • Washburn Center (Minneapolis)
  • White Earth Urban MOMS (Minneapolis)

 

TOTAL BLANKETS DISTRIBUTED BY THE GREATER TWIN CITIES AREA CHAPTER

Year

Total Each Year

Total Since We Started

 2020

 

 

2019

7,520

70,774

2018

8,063

63,254

2017

8,544

55,191

2016

7,157

46,647

2015

7,488

39,490

2014

7,095

32,002

2013

6,033

24,907

2012

4,577

18,874

2011

4,085

14,297

2010

2,488

10,212

2009

2,688

7,724

2008

3,339

5,036

Jul 2006-07

1,697

1,697