Fourth Quarter 2014 Newsletter

CHAPTER COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE

We made it through another busy season and now it is time to sit back, take a deep breath pick up some yarn, fabric, fleece and start making a blanket. Our year was good. We gave out 4,382 blanket hugs. A huge thank you to Susan Garwood who does such a wonderful job of keeping all of our numbers for me.

GIRLS ON THE RUN

A thank you to Becky Jones and Susan Bolick who joined me in manning a Project Linus booth during the annual Girls on the Run, 5K at UNC Asheville on December 6th. Girls on the Run is a non-profit that works to encourage preteen girls to develop self respect and healthy lifestyle through dynamic inter-active lessons and running games. There were over a 1,000 girls in attendance on that Saturday. We had many stop by to learn about Project Linus and pick up a mini fleece square with the directions for making a large one for another child. Hopefully we will gain some new blanket makers. There were also numerous Moms who stopped by to get blanket directions and many that told us that their child had received a PL blanket at one time and how much it had meant to them.

FUNDRAISING

Thanks to all who joined in on our TEXAS ROADHOUSE fundraiser. It was a great opportunity to have a reason to eat out, enjoy a good meal and at the same time raise some $$$$ for Project Linus. We received a check for $136.77. This will go toward the cost of the Project Linus labels we will be sewing in your donated blankets this coming year.

DEERFIELD

In October I had the pleasure of meeting with a fiber arts group from Deerfield retirement community in Asheville. Many of these ladies already make blankets for Project Linus, however, it was wonderful to share our mission with new ladies and to see some of their talents that have been put to work in the blankets that they had ready to donate to us.

BOOKS FOR GOOD

I want to encourage all of you to visit the location of Books For Good. This is a non-profit that collects used books and gives a percentage of the sales price to non-profits. Thanks to you we have donated over 800 books and can continue to give to them. They have had their December sale, but this is a business that is there every week. Their hours are Fridays 1-5 and Saturday 9-1. They are located in Fletcher at 50 Heritage Park Drive

Gene and I made a visit to the store and were amazed at the size and quantity of books they have for sale and at such low prices. You need to have an idea where they are located or you will think that you aren't going to find it. It is in storage units located at the very end of Heritage Drive. Don't stop driving until you reach the back. Please spread the word. They have thousands of books and now need thousands of customers. You can also drop off books there and tell them that they are being donated for Project Linus. They accept used books that are in good condition (no odors, no mildew, and etc.) along with original CD'S and DVD'S. They do not want encyclopedias or Readers Digest condensed books. You can visit their website www.booksfor good.net.

MAKE A BLANKET DAY

This will be the only newsletter that you will receive before our annual Buncombe County Make a Blanket Day so make a note of the time, date and place. We always look forward to seeing you there. This year it will be on March 21st from 10:00 until 2:00. The location is on the campus of Eliada Home. If you aren't familiar with this wonderful facility that does so much for children in our community, I look forward to introducing it to you. The address is 2 Compton Street. Leaving Asheville and heading West on Patton Avenue you will need to turn right onto New Leicester Highway. This is a busy intersection with an Ingles on your right. Travel 1.4 miles and turn right onto Compton Road. It is easy to drive past the turn off, however there is a sign directing you. Continue on until you enter the campus of Eliada. The building assigned to us will be on your right, the one with all the windows and a beautiful view. For those that will be joining us for the first time, this is an opportunity to get together with fellow "blanketeers" and work on making blankets. All the supplies with be provided and as in the past we will have plenty of snacks and a light lunch. You do not need to be a resident of Buncombe, we welcome each of you. If you have any questions you can call Sharon Waltman at 645-7190 or Ellen at 645-8800.

WEIGHTED BLANKETS

Unfortunately the requests for weighted blankets has decreased tremendously, with the new regulations that I have received from our National office that only the blanket shells can be distributed and therefore can't be given already weighted. Occupational Therapist don't have the time that it takes to stuff them and now the children will suffer. We have a good inventory of the shells so perhaps those of you who enjoyed making the shells can put your talents into another form of blanket until we see a rise in requests.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Anne Frank

BLANKET DROP OFF SITES

Asheville:

A.C. Moore Craft Store

River Ridge Shopping Center

Hendersonville:

Grace Lutheran Church

1245 Sixth Avenue, West

Joann Fabrics of Hendersonville

Blue Ridge Mall

1800 Four Seasons Blvd. (leave at the cutting

counter)

Mars Hill:

Make It With Yarn

635-6 Carl Eller Road

FOURTH QUARTER STATISTICS

In Out

October 330 319

November 336 509

December 344 262

4th Quarter Totals: 1,010 1,090

With these latest numbers. Our local chapter has now distributed 52,381 blankets!

Number of knitted dolls donated and distributed this quarter: 343

Weighted blankets donated to date: 669

CONTACTS:

Chapter Coordinator

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Buncombe County Contact

Sharon Waltman 828-645-7190

Cherokee, Clay, and Graham County Contact

Pat Carman 828-321-4172

Haywood County Contact

Mariam Howell 828-456-5154

Henderson County Contact

Helen McConnell 828-890-3067

Jackson and Macon County Contact

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Madison County Contact

Sandy Burns 828-734-1261

Mitchell County Contact

BettyAltman 828-765-2526

Transylvania County Contact

Pat Crawford 828-883-8746

Yancey County Contact

Asta Jeffcoat 828-682-4373