Inside: How Project Linus personally touched our family and how you can help this worthwhile organization.
Our Project Linus Experience
Project Linus is a fairly well-known charitable organization, so I’d heard of it before (though I can’t remember exactly where or when).
In 2014, I delivered my youngest daughter via a traumatic (and unexpected) C-section at a completely unfamiliar hospital.
Related: Read more about our birth story here.
We ended up staying in the hospital for five days — quite a bit longer than anticipated.
On day two, one of the nurses casually dropped off a little knit blanket, neatly wrapped with a bow. The tag said it was from Project Linus, and gave the name and address of the woman who made it (coincidentally, she lived in the same town as my parents).
I’d always assumed that Project Linus blankets were for very sick children. Despite our traumatic birth and longer than normal in-patient status, I felt undeserving. What’s more, I was so tired and doped-up at the time that I couldn’t really appreciate it then, so I packed in my suitcase with all of the other baby and mommy clothes that we never used that week.
When we returned home, I made sure to promptly send a hand-written thank you note (I am a strong proponent of thank you notes) to the woman who had knitted the blanket. I was grateful that Project Linus includes the donor’s name and address with the gift so I could acknowledge receiving it.
Why I Support Project Linus
Over the years, this blanket stood out among the others as my daughter’s favorite. She calls it her “baby blanket” and still sleeps with it (at 3 years old) regularly. You can see in the photo above it was also the blanket she took with her on walks around the neighborhood as a baby/toddler.
Although I still feel that we might not have been the MOST deserving of such a thoughtful gift, I am filled with gratitude every time I see it.
How kind of a random stranger to take the time to create something so simple, useful, and yet beautiful for those that do not have the easy birth and short hospital visit that we all hope for.
I don’t know how to knit (and a new baby doesn’t leave much spare time to do things like that anyway), but I wanted to bring attention to such a worthwhile organization, even if only to my modest blog audience. This year I finally get my first tax refund EVER, so what better opportunity to show my support in return for the thoughtfulness that was shown to me and my family. I urge you to consider doing the same.
More About Project Linus & How You Can Help
From the Project Linus <a “nofollow” href=”https://www.projectlinus.org/about/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>website, their mission is two-fold:
- Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
- Provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
How you can personally support Project Linus:
- Find a local chapter in your area to donate blankets, your time, and/or supplies.
- Create a local chapter if there isn’t one in your area.
- Donate (both one-time and recurring options are available).
CLICK HERE to visit Project Linus online for more information about this organization and how you can help by sharing your time, talent, or financial contribution.
Note: This post is not sponsored by Project Linus; this is simply an organization that touched our lives personally and I wanted to give back in any way I could!
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Tara Flores says
Thanks for the “awareness”. Super sweet!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thanks for reading, as always! We need a “play date” soon!
Another Day in Mommadise says
Thanks for sharing. I am definitely going to start working on a blanket to donate! This is such a great idea and organization. By the way, I think everyone has the not deserving feeling at some point.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
That’s awesome! Can’t wait to see what you make.