Project Linus: Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County

1000 blankets are set for Haiti....benefit concert...

2010-02-24T08:32:00.004-05:00

After a very successful blanket packing party yesterday, we have 1000 blankets packaged and ready to go to Haiti. 500 are earmarked for Christian Aid Ministries who will be taking them to Haiti on one of their many trips, and the other 500 are going to World Medical Relief who have graciously offered to pick up the blankets and transport them at no cost to Project Linus!! We are thrilled to be participating with both these wonderful organizations that do a world of good!!!

To help us get our 500 blankets in the hands of Christian Aid Ministries in PA, there will be a benefit concert this Sunday....details below!!! Please come out and support the band and this great cause!!

Benefit concert to help support Project Linus's efforts to ship blankets to Haiti-This Sunday February 28th from 6:30-10:30pm at At the Dam Site Inn in Hell, MI 4095 Patterson Lake Rd-featuring....Stevie D and the Wanna Bees with Kahle Strickland. Come out and support this great cause-and many thanks to the band for their support!!!

Looking for Assistant Chapter Coordinators

2010-01-19T18:59:00.003-05:00

Well I thought it would be a year or two before I would need to post this but with the amazing response we have received as part of the Disney Give a Day, Get a Day promo, we are in need of a few Assistant Chapter Coordinators. The ACC would help facilitate the day to day activities of the Chapter. These would include helping receive, label and distribute blankets. ACC may host events and work locally in their area to drop off or coordinate drop offs for all the amazing blankets we have received in the last few weeks and will continue to receive through the spring. Since we'll be real stocked up for the next while, the main tasks of the ACC will be finding organizations that could use our blankets and building new partnerships. Getting blankets labeled will also likely be a task for the Spring.

As Chapter Coordinator I would handle all the numbers stuff and the paperwork, so that would not be anything you'd have to worry about. I'd say the time commitment would be an average of 5 and 10 hours a week (closer to 5).

If you live in Washtenaw County and have been looking for an opportunity to get involved with, this may be for you. I promise I am a lot of fun to work with!!! :)

If you are interested in being involved, let me know. Please email me at a2projectlinus@gmail.com and put ACC in the subject so I know you are inquiring about this role.

Thanks,

Monique

Mieke the Magnificent!!!

2010-01-16T12:46:00.004-05:00

So....what happens after you drop off your lovely handmade blankets? Well, our little volunteers...Owen and Izzy take the bags downstairs to our sewing room, where my Tante Mieke (Tante is Aunt in Dutch) sews on labels all day long!!! Seriously...she has sewn on over 400 labels...she is a pro. We check them over for pins and make sure they are ready to go and then bag them up according to size. Then they are ready to go to donation sites with a need. Without Mieke sewing until the sun sets these blankets would not find their new homes as fast as they have been. So I wanted to thank Mieke...who choose the wrong time to come and visit her niece in the US... for all she has done to help the Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County Chapter put blankets in the hands of kids in need!!!

Monique

358 Blankets find a new home.....

2010-01-16T09:14:00.005-05:00

So we spent a better part of Friday loading up blankets for St Joe's and delivering them. If you made a blanket last week, chances are high it was in this delivery-unless you had a special request for it to go to Mott's. :) St Joe's was overwhelmed and so pleased to see all these amazing blankets and shared with us how happy it makes the kids when they receive them. This is what it is all about!!

A special thanks to Darren and my special little helper Peach (in picture ) who helped make this delivery!!! ....and of course to all of you for making these handmade hugs!!!!

Monique

Are you signed up between Jan. 21st and Feb. 15th?

2010-01-11T21:51:00.004-05:00

Well to say that this Disney promotion took me by storm would be an understatement!! I have travel plans for work between January 21st and February 15th. I will have a volunteer here to bring in blankets and help with the verification process, but if you have signed up for a date in that time frame and want to change it so you have ME, please do. I do not want to overwhelm my volunteer and right now there are 500 plus blankets being dropped of during that time. I have changed the postings for new sign ups to only be on certan dates now as well...again a way to control traffic around my house. If you happen to read this post and have a date scheduled during those times, please consider either moving it up or back...if you can't, there will be someone here to collect blankets, just not moi. :(

Thanks!!!

Monique
Chapter Coordinator

Vouchers from Disney Destinations....

2010-01-09T13:26:00.003-05:00

"Disney Destinations" ....that is who the email with your vouchers will come from so keep an eye on your inboxes after you have dropped off your blankets. It seems to be taking 5 days to get the vouchers at this point. (The Disney site says up to 2 weeks though). Many who dropped off this week already have the vouchers in their hands!! Yahooo!!!!

Many of you have been so sweet and asked what else oyu can do to help...well here is a little list.....

Things we need:

* Thread...if you have an extra spool of white thread laying around, please feel free to pop it in the bag with your blankets. We are labeling like crazy here and going through spool after spool.

* Delivery Help-if you want to help us get these blabkets into the hands of children in need, let us know.

* Fabric-if you can collect NEW Flannel and Fleece that seems to be our biggest needs-kid friendly prints are always desired.

* Monetary Donations- to help off-set admin costs, incidentals etc. We are 100% volunteer run so we can do a lot on even a little. :) (Thanks to those that already included a donation in with their blankets-this has helped tremendously!!)

I have enjoyed meeting those of you that have already dropped off and look forward to meeting those that are still to come!!!

Monique
Project Linus
Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County
Chapter Coordinator

The blankets are coming in......

2010-01-08T15:37:00.002-05:00

We have rec'd about 100 blankets so far and expect 1000 more in the next 8 weeks. We are very grateful for the OVERWHELMING response "Linus" has been given. But to quote Spiderman's uncle..."with great power comes great responsibility"...or something like that. Those thousand plus blankies all need to be checked over for pins and then labeled. We are going to need A LOT of help to get these handmade hugs into the hands of kids that need them. If you are available to help with this endeavour, please email us. Those that want to help out with the expenses of this endeavour may choose to do so too. The labels cost $$ so donations to Project Linus to help cover those costs are also greatly appreciated. To learn more about how you can help...email us at a2projectlinus@gmail.com.

Thanks!!!

Monique

Disney Part II.......

2010-01-04T19:04:00.003-05:00

So I have officially hit 1000 emails about the Disney promotion in the last 29 hours!!! I am thrilled to have such great participation and look forward to meeting each one of you when you drop them off (or mail them in).

If you are interested in participating in this event, log into the Disney site and register. You must register to save yourself a spot so be sure to do that.

Many of you have asked if you can participate with our organization after this event and the answer is YES!! Project Linus fulfills its mission year round and we need your support so please do....take advantage of the Disney promo now and stay on with us as volunteers.

If you are interested in helping our cause, monetary donations also help us. We need supplies. Consider donating a gift card to Joann Fabrics or donate cash (tax receipt are available) that we can use to help do the work we do!!! Contact me at a2projectlinus@gmail.com for more information. :)

Disney Give a Day/Get a Day Promotion

2010-01-03T14:59:00.003-05:00

Donating a blanket to Project Linus is a GREAT feeling. Knowing something you made with your own hands is going to bring a smile to the face of a child in need...it just does not get any better than that. Well, that is unless in ADDITION to that great feeling someone also says you can play at DISNEY for FREE. Yes, you read that correctly....Disney's Give a Day/Get a Day promotion for 2010 encourages families to get out and volunteer and as a thank you...Disney will grant you admission to one of their parks. For more information about the promotion and how to sign up visit http://www.handsonnetwork.org/disney .

If you have any questions at all...just let me know.

Monique

Stocking Stuffers....

2009-11-30T22:12:00.002-05:00

If you are looking for a great little stocking stuffer, consider making a tax deductable donation to Project Linus /Washtenaw County Chapter. All donations $10 and over will come with a special card with the name of the recipient as well as a little description about Project Linus. The money recieved will go towards supplies so we can make more blankets for kids in need! If you are interested in learning more, please contact us and we'll be more than happy to help you out!

Blanket Guidelines

2009-11-07T20:04:00.003-05:00

Thanks to all those that have graciously starting making blankets for us. Here are some guidelines to help you with your blanket making...

Project Linus accepts blankets that are new, handmade and washable. Because many of our blankets end up in hospitals, blankets must be free of any odours, most importantly smoke. You'll want to make sure you check your blankets over carefully for any pins etc...and please stay clear of adding any embellishments that may pose a choking hazard.

Some of the suitable materials for your blankets include: 100% cotton fabric, flannel, fleece, or acrylic yarn. When choosing your yarn or fabric, pick appropriate infant, child or teen friendly colors. These blankets should be colorful, cheerful, and most of all super cuddly!

Many people ask us about sizes...here are some guidelines:

Newborn: 30" x 30" to 36” x 36”

Toddler/Child: 36" x 40" to 40" x 40"

Teen: 40" x 60" to "45" x 72"

If you have any other questions about making blankets please let us know. Otherwise, happy blanket making!!

Just let me know when your blankets are done and we can arrange a drop-off or pick up. :)

Thanks!!!

Greetings from the Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County Chapter

2009-11-03T16:48:00.002-05:00

We are up and running and graciously looking for volunteers for all aspects of our chapter. If you like scheduling and coordinating events, we need you! If you like to provide ideas and 'technical' help to those making blankets, we need you too. If you like to make blankets...we certainly need you. Interested in dropping off and picking up blankets...yep, we have a spot for you too. Interested in spreading the word? We NEED you for sure....help spread the word and get the community involved!

If you want to be involved, we have a place for you to help. Email us so we can get our team in place and start making a difference in the lives of children in need!