Third Quarter 2014 Newsletter
CHAPTER COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE
As I am sitting down to write this, I am enjoying the rain and the fall temperature; however, knowing WNC, after today's comfortable weather tomorrow could bring on Indian summer. Cool weather is good for Project Linus, as it is a motivating factor for us to pick up yarn and get to work! We have had another wonderful quarter with lots of opportunity to spread the word on our mission and work that we do. Thanks to all of you who have helped to get the word out. As you read this newsletter you will get to see many of the events in which we have actively participated in during the past three months.
CAMP CORRAL
So many of you made blankets for this event which was held on July 6 in King, NC (just North of Winston Salem). This camp is sponsored by Golden Corral Restaurants and is a weeklong camp for young people ages 8 - 15 who have lost a parent or have had a wounded parent return home from having served in our armed forces. These camps were held at various sites throughout the country with the King location being the closest to us. We partnered with chapters from Knoxville, Charlotte, and Hickory to provide 250 blankets for these children, with our chapter's share being 75. Husband Gene and I drove to King with 25 extra blankets so that we could be sure any sibling that was there and not old enough to attend the camp could still go home with a blanket "hug". This is such an emotional occasion and makes one feel so good to see smiles on the faces of the young folks as they go through the stack of blankets to find their special one. We will continue to participate in Camp Corral as we are called upon, so next Spring when you are trying to decide what your next blanket should be.....remember the patriotic blankets and the camouflage fabrics. These have been the favorites.
UNC-A
We were asked to participate in an event at UNC-A which gave the students a chance to learn about the different volunteer opportunities available to them in this area. Betsy Jones, one of our new "blanketeers," offered to staff this for us and she introduced Project Linus to many new prospects. Several of the student organizations felt that our mission would fit with their need for community service projects.
T.C. ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL
A ninth grade student has chosen Project Linus as her high school project. I meet with her and she has now started a PL club at the school. They meet once a week and work on blankets. They are now working on the no sew fleece and also the sewn quilts (two pieces of fabric, and batting). Isn't it wonderful that schools are now encouraging students to give back by participating in community service projects?
FAMILY VOLUNTEER FAIR
This event was held in Weaverville on September 27th. The purpose was to introduce WNC Families to opportunities to give back. So many only want to receive and this was a hands on experience to show children that giving can be fun. Betsy Jones, Mary Kirchner and I had the joy of working with lots of little munchkins. The older children and families made fleece blankets and the little ones (two years and up) colored muslin fabric squares that are now going to be sewn into a quilt. We are continuing to find out there are many ways to spread the word of Project Linus. If you hear of an opportunity do let me know and we can work together on the best way to go about it.
IF GOD ONLY GAVE US GOOD DAYS, HOW WOULD WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES!!
FUNDRAISING
Along with the fun of getting the word out and the actual making of the blankets we have the need to raise money. This quarter I have two fun activities that need your help in making it work.
The first is BOOKS FOR GOOD INC.. This is a local nonprofit that collects used books for a large book sale that they will have in December. 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. Every book donation by an organization, with the help of a computerized bar-coding system, receives a code. When one of our donated books is sold, Project Linus will receives a percent of the sale. So start collecting those books and drop them off at our next labeling, which will be November 5th. We will be meeting at the Lutheran Church of the Nativity at the corner of Airport Road and Hendersonville. The books should be dropped off between 1:00 and 2:00. If you can't bring them at this time, call me (Ellen) at 828-645-8800 and we will work something out.
Our second fund raising event is sponsored by the restaurant, TEXAS ROADHOUSE, located at 230 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. What could be more fun than eating out and raising money for Project Linus at the same time? On NOVEMBER 9th from 11:00AM until 10:00PM come to the Texas Roadhouse, enjoy a meal (Hand-Cut Steaks and Fall-Off-The Bone Ribs and much more) and Project Linus will receive 10% of your food bill. You will need to bring a copy of the flyer which is in this newsletter. If you know of someone who is unable to locate a flyer, let them know that they can just mention Project Linus to their server and we will still get the 10%. Please make many copies and pass them out to your friends, family and neighbors. Encourage everyone to eat out that day.
BLANKET SIZES
Another reminder that although we give blankets to newborns these babies grow very quickly and we want to emphasis that blanket sizes need to be no smaller than 36"x 45". We seem to run short on boy theme blankets so as you sew do keep this in mind.
IN KIND TAX RECEIPTS
If you are wanting your December donations to appear on your fourth quarter tax receipt your blankets must be in our hands by the 3rd. of December. This is the date that we meet to process all collected blankets. Therefore, they will need to be at one of the drop off locations by the end of November. Any blankets that we receive after this date will show on the January log. If you do not wish to receive an in-kind-tax receipt let me know. If you receive the newsletter electronically we can still keep in touch and we would be able to save the price of the stamp.
MAKE A BLANKET DAY
Many of you know that Buncombe County was unable to hold a Make A Blanket Day this past year due to construction at Mission Hospital. I want to let you know so that you can mark your 2015 calendar now, as the date for the MABD will be March 21st. It will be held at Eliada Home which is located off Leicester Highway. More details will be in the Fourth Quarter Newsletter, but you will only receive this if you turn in a blanket donation during this quarter.
EMAIL ADDRESS
If you would like to receive all of our newsletters, even on the quarters that your fingers have taken a rest, we need your email address and we will make sure that you receive one. Send your request to Helen McConnell at jhmcconnel@bellsouth.net.
SNOWBALL EXPRESS
Snowball Express is a group that provides a holiday vacation for the children of our fallen soldiers. This year it will be held in Dallas Texas during the Christmas holidays. 1,200 children are flown in from all over the country by American Airlines. These children, who have lost so much, come together to spend time with other children who can relate to their loss. They are entertained from the moment they arrive and of course are given a Project Linus blanket. The Dallas chapter reaches out to all PL chapters throughout the country for donations. This year we are able to send 75 large blankets and through the generous donation from veteran Herb Stanfield (husband of Connie) and a group of his fellow veterans they
covered the expense of shipping the blankets. We thank these special guys, not only for their monetary gift, but for the service that they have given to our Country and to us. If you would like to read more about this wonderful event check out their website (www.SnowballExpress.org) for photos and specific information.
MISSION CRAFT GROUP
A group of ladies meet weekly at Mission Hospital to work on projects that will benefit the patients (busy aprons for those with dementia, lap quilts, stuffed animals, lovies, muslin dolls, etc.).
If you have some of the following items that you could donate or if you are interested in joining this group contact Janet Stewart at 828-575-9195:
muslin zippers
old wooden spools lace, trim, ribbons
keys large beads
large buttons Velcro pieces
plastic canvas
"GIVE WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN (NOT EVEN A THANK YOU). THAT IS UNCONDITIONAL KINDNESS. EVERTHING ELSE IS EGO."
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
THIRD QUARTER STATISTICS
In Out
July 375 289
August 558 538
September 247 297
3rd.Quarter Totals: 1,180 1,124
With these latest numbers. Our local chapter has now distributed 51,291 blankets!
Number of knitted dolls donated and distributed
this quarter: 246
Weighted blankets donated to date: 641
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