CHILDREN AND THEIR BLANKIES
My son had leukemia 5 years ago and is celebrating his
remission this month! During the time he was ill I became involved
in "Project Linus." (Named after Linus in the comic strip PEANUTS
who always carries his blanket.)
The group started in December 1995 by a woman in Denver to give
blankets to children with serious illnesses. Now there are more than
120 chapters helping out around the United States.
I receive between 100 - 150 blankets per month from "blanketeers"
around the metroplex. Blankets are crocheted, quilted, tacked, etc.
and they go to people ranging from birth to 20 years old.
I give the blankets to 3 major hospitals in Dallas - Scottish Rites,
Medical City, Children's of Dallas - as well as Cooke's Children in
Ft. Worth.
The blankets go to children in cancer treatments, on kidney
dialysis, receiving facial cranial surgery, just to name a few.
We never turn a child or blanket away. I generally take 30
to 50 blankets to the hospitals at a time Then the child-life
specialists give the blankets of comfort to the appropriate age
or sex by the size and color of the blanket.
Everyone is making blankets from Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church
groups, sewing guilds and many, many individuals.
One church group tie tacks quilts and gives the hospitals 10 per
month!
The quilters call the ties "love knots" and sell them at church to
keep them supplied in fabric, batting and yarn. They have been
doing this since August '96 and the youngest in their group is 69
years old.
Another lady works at a "children's home" and wants the kids to
know that even if you have nothing, you can still give. She tapes
12x12 squares of muslin on their desks and they color pictures
with crayons.
She then covers the pictures with wax paper and irons to "set" the
pictures. She sews the peices together, adds a colorful background
and the kids help her tie tack the quilt.
Another group simply calls themselves the country gals and they
crochet and knit blankets.
There are many, many individuals that are very near and dear to me
who make blankets on a continuous basis. Many have been touched
by a loved one with an illness and some just do it out of love.
I thank God everyday for earth Angels such as these and how they
have touched my life.
Author: Renee in the DallasFt. Worth Metroplex Texas
"Angels and Miracles ... Good-News-Letter"
It is not how much we do, but how much love
we put into the doing.
And it is not how much we give
but how much love we put into the giving.
To God there is nothing small.
~ Mother Theresa ~