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Purpose:
Purpose:
Project Linus provides handmade blankets for children ages from new birth to 18 in the United States who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. We create the blankets and offer them over to other organizations who distribute them directly to the children.
About Our Project Linus Chapter:
We have a smaller sized chapter of both women and men as well as children! Most of us love to create blankets and we all want to help children in need find comfort.
We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the Bloomsbury firehouse, East Street entrance
We create beautiful blankets for children in need. We welcome new members!
Some of our chapter leaders after our second annual Make a Blanket Day event held in 2023 at the Bloomsbury Fire Department.
What we've done:
What we've done:
We got our start during the Covid outbreak. Our chapter leader, Diane P, decided she was going to put her spare time at home to good use by doing something nice for other people. She liked Project Linus' purpose, she noticed there was not a chapter in her locale, so created one! The chapter has been growing ever since, and as of 2024, the chapter has held three very successful Make a Blanket Day events, amongst several other events, to introduce our chapter to the local public and invite new members to join and participate.
Since the beginning, we now have dozens of members and we have created hundreds of blankets. All of the blankets are brand new, hand crafted with non-allergenic materials. The blankets are either quilted, crocheted, knitted or made with fleece and garnished in various unique ways.
Team members creating blankets during our second Make a Blanket Day event.
Make a Blanket Day:
Make a Blanket Day:
We often get asked: "What if I can't make a blanket? Can I still be a part of the team?" The truth is ANYONE can make a blanket! Some of our nicest blankets have come from new volunteers who visit us on one of our Make a Blanket Days. (There are easy ways of making blankets and there are more challenging ways of making them. Let us show you how!) We have lots of photos of our most recent Make a Blanket Day at this link: Photos. We also have guidelines on how to host a Make a Blanket Day at this link: Guidelines. We schedule our event in late winter, normally in mid-March. Check community bulletin boards and the Treasure Hunt periodical for details. Or, watch this clip to see a television news presentation of the event: News Feature.
One of our members instructs a visitor about how to crochet during our third Make a Blanket Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a question about Project Linus or want to know how you can help? Review our listing of common questions along with helpful answers below. If you have additional questions not answered here, contact us at diane.pflugfelder@gmail.com or (908) 391-0578
How can I help?
Make a blanket and donate it to our Project Linus chapter. We will take your blanket to a facility where it will be given to a deserving child.
How can I make a monetary or gift card donations?
You can write a check payable to "Project Linus" and mail it to
Project Linus National Headquarters, PO Box 1548, Belton, MO 64012.1108
Gift cards: Please deliver to the Hunterdon & Warren NJ Chapter directly at our chapter meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Bloomsbury Fire House, Park Street, Bloomsbury, NJ.
The check should indicate it is for the "Hunterdon and Warren County's Chapter." We will deposit it and the funds will be used to purchase supplies that will be used to make more blankets. All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501c3 non-profit organization. Gift cards from Michaels, Joanns, Wal-mart, or Staples will help us acquire materials necessary to make more blankets. Cards should be sent to the address below. Postage stamps will also be accepted.
How are monetary donations used by the organization?
There are many expenses involved in maintaining our Project Linus chapter. Normal expenses for our organization are: Fabric, batting, yarn, other blanket-making supplies, blanket labels, printing, office supplies, postage, and shipping to name a few.
I have fabric or other blanket-making materials to donate. What should I do?
Our chapter is always very grateful for donation of yarn (acrylic or 100% cotton only), fleece, quilting materials, postage stamps, or gift cards from Michaels, Joanns, Wal-mart, or Staples. Your donation will be put to good use buying necessary materials. Materials must be new, unused, washable, and free of contaminants such as mold, mildew, animal hair, and smoke. They should be cotton or cotton/poly blend fabrics. Cotton or acrylic batting is acceptable and as are (non-wool) yarns that are washable. Knits, double knits, and other fabrics not appropriate for a child’s blanket may not be acceptable. Please remember that Project Linus blankets are for children, so please avoid black, dark brown, and charcoal colors. Bright or cheery colors or patterns are suggested. Materials can be dropped off at the Hunterdon & Warren NJ Chapter directly at our chapter meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Bloomsbury Fire House, Park Street, Bloomsbury, NJ. You may also contact Diane P., our chapter coordinator, to arrange a time to exchange (908) 391-0578. All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
What type of blankets does Project Linus accept?
Our chapter accepts NEW, HANDMADE, WASHABLE, quilts, blankets and afghans for giving to children ages 0-18 years. Project Linus blankets are not donated to adults. As a national policy we accept all sizes and styles. Project Linus blankets must be of excellent quality and free from contaminants. Special care should be taken to ensure that blankets are free of smoky smells or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child. Ensure that blankets are free of pet or animal hair. Hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will most likely be discarded. Recent studies show that laundering these blankets does not remove contamination, and in some cases can even make it worse. Always check blankets carefully for pins, and remove any embellishments such as buttons that could be swallowed.
What do you mean by “handmade,” and why?
When we say “handmade” or “homemade” we mean something that is not commercially manufactured or purchased. Of course, home sewing machines, knitting machines, etc. are fine. It has always been the mission of Project Linus to donate only handmade blankets. They really make a difference. Purchased blankets are nice, but handmade blankets are from the heart. If you do not have the time or ability to hand craft a blanket, perhaps you would consider a monetary donation. All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
What type of blankets does Project Linus NOT accept?
Project Linus chapters are instructed to reject blankets that are not of excellent quality. In addition they must be free from contaminants. Special care should be taken to insure all blankets are free of smoky smells or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child. Hospitals will not accept these blankets, and they will most likely be discarded. Recent studies show laundering such blankets does not remove contamination, and in some cases can even make it worse. Again, if unusually strong smells due to chemicals used in detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, mold and mildew or smoking products are apparent, most hospitals will discard the blanket rather than jeopardize the health of a patient. Always check blankets carefully for pins, and remove any embellishments such as buttons that could be swallowed. Thank you for helping to make sure that Project Linus blankets are safe and healthy, and will bring only comfort and security to a child in need!
What about sizes?
Project Linus donates blankets to children, from infants through teens. Many sizes are appropriate. For example, knitted, crocheted, and quilted blankets (not fleece) could be as small as 30" × 36". Those are for babies. Baby blankets cannot have fringe because it can be a choking hazard. Fleece blankets must be at least 40" x 60" and are for older children. Blankets for older children can be knitted, crocheted, quilted, or no-sew fleece. Blankets could be as large as twin size for teens. Please do not make blankets bigger than twin sized. (40" x 70")
Newborn: 30” x 36” Babies/Todlers: 36” x 36", 36" x 40", or 40” x 40” Older Child: 40" x 60" or 45" x 70"
Where can I find a pattern for making a Project Linus blanket?
Check the Patterns/Links page on ProjectLinus.org to see what is currently available online. The easiest pattern is the "no-sew" fleece kind. All you need is at least 1.5 yards of fleece fabric (54" wide). Please, please, please cut the selvage edges (the uncut edges) entirely off. Remove a 4" by 4" square from each corner. Cut 1" wide strips for fringe along each side and then tie a single knot in each strip. Don't tie two strips together.
Knitters, crocheters, and quilters can use the pattern of their choice.
Where do the blankets go?
Blankets made by our chapter members and volunteers are gathered, inspected by our team leaders, and then sorted in large plastic bags according to size. We work with several charitable organizations and services that provide the blankets directly to children in need, who typically use the services of our distributors. We have very strict guidelines about the handling of blankets. None of our blankets are ever sold, traded or used by adults. They are strictly for children in need.
I wish to help distribute blankets to children in need. What are your guidelines for delivering blankets?
We are always looking for help delivering the blankets we create. To begin the process, please contact our chapter's coordinator: Diane P. at (908) 391-0578. The guidelines are very simple and can be found at this link: Guidelines.
When and where to drop off blankets
Please include your name, address, and email address and indicate the blankets are for Project Linus.
Blankets can be delivered to:
Hunterdon & Warren NJ Chapter directly at our chapter meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Bloomsbury Fire House, Park Street, Bloomsbury, NJ.
Ways to Help
Make a blanket out of acrylic yarn or washable fabric. It can be crocheted, knitted, quilted, or fleece.
Minimum Sizes (measurements are approximate):
Newborn: 30” x 36” or larger with no fringe as it can be a choking hazard
Young Child: 36” x 40” or 40” x 40”
Older Child: 40” x 60” or “45” x 70”
Donate materials such as yarn, fabric or batting.
Donate Michael’s, JoAnn’s, Staples, or Wal-Mart gift cards/certificates.
Donate supplies: postage stamps, paper, envelopes, etc.
Donate by writing a check payable to "Project Linus" and mail it to:
Project Linus National Headquarters, PO Box 1548, Belton, MO 64012.1108
Gift cards: Please deliver to the Hunterdon & Warren NJ Chapter directly at our chapter meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm at the Bloomsbury Fire House, Park Street, Bloomsbury, NJ.
The check should indicate it is for the "Hunterdon and Warren County's Chapter."
All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
What is Make a Blanket Day?
Make a Blanket Day is an open house sponsored by our chapter so we can show the public what we create, how we create it, and what we use to create it. We offer several demonstrations on how to make various blankets, offer free supplies to those willing to make blankets for our cause, and we provide light refreshments and field all questions. We also invite new members to join our team and ask for donations of either money, materials and supplies, or finished blankets.
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