Blanket Day this Saturday

Credit: Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Linda Jo Eldreth (left) and Rita Reese work on creating blankets for Project Linus, a nationwide program that contributes blankets and quilts to children in need and child-oriented health-care facilities. The Burke/Caldwell/Catawba chapter of Project Linus will have a Blanket Day starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in Mt. Hebron Lutheran Church, 103 Main Ave. East, Hildebran.

By: Tracy Farnham | Morganton News Herald
Published: February 19, 2010

HILDEBRAN --

Willing hands are needed to help make blankets for Project Linus this weekend. The project's national slogan is, "Giving love one quilt at a time"
The Burke/Caldwell/ Catawba chapter of Project Linus is one of 378 chapters in the United States. As of September 2009 it had given more than 3 million blankets to children in need. The project was started as a mission to share love through the security and warmth of a homemade blankets dispersed to children who are seriously ill or traumatized by various causes.
Volunteer blanketeers can gather to share in Blanket Day at 9 a.m. Saturday in Mt. Hebron Lutheran Church, 103 Main Ave. East, Hildebran.
Averaging nearly 75 people on past Blanket Days, Julie Propst expects the same participation this year.
Propst has made blankets through Operation Linus for nearly five years and now serves as the Burke, Caldwell and Catawba chapter's coordinator.
"This year, as coordinator, my job is to give out the blankets," she said.
Since the tri-county chapter started in 2001, Propst figures 5,454 blankets have been given out locally to area hospitals, including Grace and Valdese, along with the Child Advocacy Center and Options Inc. in Morganton.
"It is really organized and similar to a production line with some sewing, ironing and cutting in stations," she said. Anyone can help; it doesn't matter if they don't know how to sew, Propst added.
"There is a purpose other than being cute," she said about the blankets, many of which the chapter donates to the neonatal unit at Catawba Valley Medical Center. Propst explained that the blankets help keep the lights from glaring in the baby's eyes and also keep the heat inside the neonatal isolettes. She saw this first hand while visiting a friend's premature baby.
"It was a beautiful sight to see the blankets over the beds," Propst said.
"A lot of folks think the whole reason behind Project Linus is just a blanket, but it really does mean something to someone," she said, "We all have favorite things that someone has made. That's what drew me in."
Handmade blankets, supplies or donations for the chapter may be dropped off at Bill's Sewing Center in Hildebran. Donated quilts are asked to be at least 36 by 36 inches. If possible, all materials, blankets and quilts should come from smoke-free environments.
Propst said she hopes to add additional blanket-making days this year.
For more information contact Propst at 828-238-4613 or by visiting www.plcatawbavalley.org.

Blanket Day this Saturday

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