Fourth Quarter Newsletter 2015

CHAPTER COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE

My wish for you is that January will bring you a month of rest and relaxation. The holidays are such a beautiful and wonderful time of the year, but I find that as each year passes it does take a physical toll on us as an individual. Oh well! I guess that is part of the aging process. I look forward to another wonderful year with each of you and with your help we can deliver lots of "blanket hugs".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

On December 24, Project Linus celebrated its 20th birthday. It was Christmas Eve 1995 that our founder, Karen Loucks Rinedollar was inspired by a simple article in a weekly paper stating that a child could be touched, loved and comforted by a warm, snuggly, handmade blanket. She put into motion a grassroots effort that was transformed into a National blanket-making army of approximately 75,000 blanket makers. Project Linus has donated close to 6 million blankets since that time. Each of you have helped with that number allowing our local chapter to give out over 56,000 "hugs". Thank you.

DONATIONS

"Build it and they will come". If ever the adage applied to Western North Carolina Project Linus it was this past quarter, our inventory was down to an all time low, due to a number of reasons. We have lost quite a few of our long time dedicated "blanketeers". We have had several move away to be nearer to children, several who have moved into senior living facilities, some who can no longer sew due to eyesight or arthritis. All of this combined has meant fewer blankets. However, when I put out the call for help in November I never expected the overwhelming response that we received. At our work day on December 2nd we processed 543 blankets. We all went home exhausted, but with a wonderful feeling in our heart, knowing that we would be able to fill all the requests for blankets, not only in December, but for January. A big Linus hug to each of you for stepping up to the plate and really going beyond the call of duty.

WEIGHTED BLANKETS

After six months of few requests for the weighted blankets, the demand has once again picked up. If you are one who enjoys making the blanket shells I would encourage you to make some. I have the Velcro and if you will let me know we can work out a way for me to get it to you.

BLANKET SIZES

The no-sew fleece blankets have become very popular with both the blanket maker and the recipient. This is easy to understand as they are fun and easy to make, come in so many pleasing patterns and are very soft for the child. However, this is creating another problem as they make up best as a large blanket. Our inventory of small and medium blankets are suffering because of this. So if you are making a large blanket, try and consider making one of the other sizes next.

FACEBOOK GROUP

Thanks to our "blanketeer" Ennis Julian, we have our own face book group, it is called Project Linus WNC. and is a great way to share tips, tricks, patterns, current projects, links or whatever communications you feel like. If you aren't on face book, grab a young person and let them set you up. The groups are a unique forum for sharing, getting inspired and connecting with blanketeers we don't see very often.

So why is a car's windshield so large and the rear view mirror is so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, look ahead and move on!

MAKE A BLANKET DAY

This will be the only newsletter that you will received before our annual Buncombe County Make a Blanket Day so make a note of the time, date and place now. We always look forward to seeing you there. We will be holding our MABD at the same location as last year, on the campus of Eliada Home. This year it will be held Saturday, March 12, from 10:00 until 2:00. The address is 2 Compton Street. Leaving Asheville and heading West on Patton Avenue you will 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 toEliada Home, continue on Compton Street until you enter the campus. The building we will be working in is on the right, the one with all the windows. If this is your first MABD you will have the opportunity to get together with fellow "blanketeers" and work on blanket projects. All supplies will be provided as well as lots of snacks and a light lunch. You do not need to be a resident of Buncombe County, as we welcome each of you and will look forward to sharing the day with you,. If you have any questions you can call Sharon Waltman at 645-7190 or Ellen Knoefel at 645-8800.

FOR ATTRACTIVE LIPS,SPEAK WORKS OF KINDNESS. FOR LOVELY EYES,SEEK OUT THE GOOD IN PEOPLE. FOR A SLIM FIGURE,SHARE YOUR FOOD WITH THE HUNGRY. FOR BEAUTIFUL HAIR,LET A CHILD RUN HIS OR HER FINGERS THROUGH IT ONCE A DAY. FOR POISE,WALK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE. AUDREY HEPBURN

If you would like to be on our email list, send your request to Helen McConnell at jhmcconnell@bellsouth.net.

National web site: www.projectlinus.orgLocal web site; www.projectlinusofwnc.org

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 375 346

November 256 350

December 543 293

4th Quarter Totals: 1174 989

With these latest numbers. Our local chapter has now distributed 56,278 blankets!

Number of knitted dolls donated and distributedthis quarter: 210

Weighted blankets donated to date: 786

CONTACTS:

Chapter Coordinator

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Buncombe County Contact

Sharon Waltman 828-645-7190

Cherokee, Clay, and Graham County Contact

Pam 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

Betty Altman 828-765-2526

Transylvania County Contact

Pat Crawford 828-883-8746

Yancey County Contact

Asta Jeffcoat 828-682-4373