The Foster Grandparent Program is working with Project Linus to give away 150 brand new, handmade blankets in the next few weeks. The national non-profit collects the blankets, then volunteers help distribute them to places like hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere a child might be in need of a hug. And yes, Project Linus is named after the adorable security blanket-toting character from the Peanuts comic strip.
Foster Grandparent Program helps gather blankets for Project Linus
Senior volunteers with Fresno EOC Foster Grandparent Program typically provide one-to-one mentoring and emotional support to underserved children throughout Fresno and Madera Counties. But they are taking on a bit of a different role this holiday season. Leah Struck, Program Coordinator for the Foster Grandparent Program, said they will distribute blankets among children at Fresno EOC WIC, Fresno EOC Head Start 0 to 5, and Fresno EOC Central Valley Against Human Trafficking. “We at Fresno EOC are happy to be a part of Project Linus’s mission to give children in need that warm, cozy blanket this time of year when some of them may not be getting another gift. It is like giving them a warm hug from a grandma.”
All blankets are new and handmade. Some donors knit, crochet or sew, while others make “no-sew” fleece blankets.
Nearly 300 chapters of Project Linus are in existence, including one for Fresno, Madera, & Tulare Counties. Local Chapter Coordinator, Elena Walthour, says these blankets can be a big comfort to children and have left a lasting impression. “I’ve met people who said they have fond memories of receiving a blanket from Project Linus years ago.” Nationwide, more than 8 million blankets have been delivered since 1995.