Second Quarter Newsletter, June 2017
CHAPTER COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE
This has been another wonderful quarter, topped off by our amazing annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea. We ate, played, worked, visited and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon. My thanks go to all who worked so hard on making this event so successful and to each of you who attended. I think that everyone will agree that the Community Service Project we worked on honoring the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department meant as much to each of us as it did to the recipients of the 250 goodie bags. To quote part of a letter that we received from Sgt. Mull, Community Outreach/Crime Prevention
“Absolutely everyone was thrilled with the gift bags, and that your organization would take the time to think of us and work so hard to put it all together. I know we live in a time where it seems no one appreciates Law Enforcement, but the kindness you have shown to our Sheriff’s office just proves that we do have people that care about us and it is greatly appreciated!!!”
We also were fortunate to have our Kohl’s Associates come work with us. This store provides amazing good for the community. For their labor at the tea we will be receiving another $500.00 grant. This goes towards supplies so let me reach out once again, if you would like for us to help you with your blanket purchases you just need to let me know.
OPERATION PURPLE
The dates for the three one week sessions of Operation Purple and Camp Hope are fast approaching. Husband Gene and I along with Connie and Herb Stanfield will be delivering the 300 blankets on July 7th. As always you have been extremely generous with your donations, and we reached our goal without short changing any of our other obligations. I know these children who have parents in the military or have parents who are incarcerated will be over joyed with our blanket “hugs”. Another thank you and a pat on the back for a job well done. I will give more details in our next quarterly newsletter.
HATS OFF TO……
We have two “blanketeers” who never finish one project before they are searching for something else that will help out another individual or group. Connie and Herb Stanfield are the ones who discovered Operation Purple and suggested that we become involved with it. Now they have come up with the next idea and this has nothing to do with Project Linus. Herb was visiting in the Henderson County Headquarters of the State Highway Troopers. He had taken them some PL blankets and was told that they really didn’t see that many children out on the roadways. What they did encounter, however, were many homeless adults. They mentioned that they would love to have zip lock bags containing a hat and a pair of gloves that they could carry in their cars and give to these cold and lonely individuals. If you would like to help out in this capacity and use that extra yarn to knit or crochet some of these items I know it would be appreciated. You can contact me (828-645-8800) or Connie (828-891-4400).
5 Little Monkeys
Don’t you just love the name. I am happy to tell you that we have a new shop in Weaverville, 5 Little Monkeys Quilt & Sew which recently opened on North Main Street. One step inside and you will know that you have found heaven. Angie Lamoree and her husband DJ are the owners and are very supportive of Project Linus. She remembers when one of her sons received a Project Linus blanket and how much it meant to them. 5 Little Monkeys is our newest drop off point and will certainly be an asset to those living in North Buncombe County. Check out their web site and see who the 5 monkeys are. As with all donated blankets be sure and include your name and address. It is impossible to keep in touch if we don’t have this information.
AMAZON SMILE
There are many ways to support Project Linus other than making blankets. Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com you will find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, but with an added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from many organizations to support, but hopefully Project linus will be at the top of your list.
INVENTORY
Our inventory and needs are constantly changing and I will try to keep you informed, to date we are looking for some additional facilities that might benefit from some of your blanket hugs. I am sure that you have special groups that you work with that would love to receive a bag of these blankets. Please don’t assume that we know and deliver to all facilities, if you have a suggestion check to see if they are on our list. We are finding that fewer and fewer places want the small size blankets. Children grow so fast and it seems that everyone wants either a medium or large blanket. If you can make one of the larger sizes it would help us reduce the number of smalls that we have on hand.
Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble. But it is a “steering wheel” that directs the right path throughout.
If you would like to be on our email list, send your request to Helen McConnell at:
jhmcconnell@bellsouth.net
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)
Weaverville:
5 Little Monkeys Quilt & Sew
32 North Main Street
SECOND QUARTER STATISTICS
In Out
April 576 400
May 379 352
June 630 460
2nd Quarter Totals 1585 1,212
With these latest numbers. Our local chapter has now distributed 62,528 blankets!
Number of knitted dolls donated and distributed
this quarter: 151
Weighted blankets donated to date: 892
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
Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800
Mitchell County Contact
Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800
Transylvania County Contact
Pat Crawford 828-883-8746
Yancey County Contact
Asta Jeffcoat 828-682-4373
National web site: www.projectlinus.org
WNC Chapter website: www.projectlinusofwnc.org
Do take the time to check out these two websites. You will discover that over 6 million blankets have been given nationwide. Our 62,500 is quite amazing.