Second Quarter Newsletter, June 2018

CHAPTER COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE

This year’s tea was another wonderful and successful event. It was special having so many of you with us to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year. You can look at the numbers at the end of this newsletter to appreciate what I mean. The generosity of this group amazes and overwhelms me at times. We delivered 300 blankets to Camp Bob to be provided for the children attending Operation Purple and Camp Hope. We also delivered over 300 books for their library as this is a very important component of the camp day. So many of these campers are unable to read at their grade level and one of the camp’s focus is setting aside time for reading.

Summer is usually a quieter period, but I hope you will continue to work on blankets. If you are wondering about a good size to make our inventory of Medium size (40” x 50” and up) seems to remain quite low.

FOUND

A heart shaped locket was found at the Appreciation Tea and I would love to unite it with its owner. It has “Grammy” written across it. If this belongs to you, please call me (828-645-8800) so I can see that you get it back.

BOOKS FOR GOOD

This wonderful used book store located in Fletcher has asked for our help. Those of you who aren’t familiar with their mission it is as follows: members of non-profits take used good quality books to them where they are sold for a reasonable price and the non-profit receives a portion of the proceeds. In just three years our Chapter has been blessed with over $3000.00. They do not accept VHS tapes, encyclopedias, magazines, Reader’s Digest condensed books or damaged goods. Currently they have a very large inventory and need customers to help them reduce it. To increase sales and allow buyers to support a charity, they are having a raffle. Starting July 9th, for every $5.00 spent (taxes not included), buyers will receive a raffle ticket on which they can enter a charity from the list of those that are registered. At the end of the quarter Books for Good will draw one ticket and that charity will receive an extra $100.00. I encourage each of you to help spread the word and do shop their shelves. The location of Books for Good is 50 Heritage Park Drive in Fletcher.

WEIGHTED BLANKETS

Our Chapter has crossed the threshold of 1,000 weighted blankets delivered to children who are struggling with sensitivity issues. The requests keep coming in, as this has now become a popular item. The added weight of the blanket has a calming effect, allowing these kids to settle down and to sleep, making a big difference in their quality of life. If making one of these interests you, I can send you the pattern and the Velcro that is used to close the channels that holds the weighted material.

SCARVES AND HATS

We are once again collecting scarves and hats to be distributed to the homeless in the coming winter. Also, we have been asked by the Area Agency on Aging at the Land of Sky Regional Council to help them provide scarves to their clients at Christmas. If you have extra yarn and aren’t busy making dolls to be given with the smaller blankets perhaps you would be willing to make some hats or scarves.

STITCHES OF LOVE

Janet Stewart, one of our “blanketeers”, leads a group called “Stitches of Love.” Established in 2007, this group creates handcrafted items such as scarves, hats, lap robes, dolls, and many other items which are donated to local charities such as Eliada Home, ABCCM, Salvation Army, etc. They have donated over 22,0000 items to date and are looking for new members to join with them in this endeavor. They meet at the New Hope Presbyterian Church on Sweeten Creek Road on the second Monday of each month at 7:00PM. If you are interested call Janet at 828-575-9195 or email at imjstewart@att.net.

BLANKET BEACON

Our National Office is once again working on producing a quarterly newsletter designed to benefit every Project Linus volunteer….. this means you! The headquarters staff would love to have you sign up to receive it. Therefore, go to their website projectlinus.org where you can register for the Blanket Beacon. You will receive quarterly newsletters along with other items of interest from headquarters.

DON’T REGRET GETTING OLDER. IT IS A PRIVILEGE DENIED TO MANY.

BLANKET DROP-OFF SITES

Asheville:

A.C. Moore Craft Store

River Ridge Shopping Center

Hendersonville:

Grace Lutheran Church

1245 Sixth Avenue West

Joann Fabrics

Blue Ridge Mall

1800 Four Seasons Blvd.

(leave at the cutting counter)

Weaverville:

5 Little Monkeys Quilt and Sew

32 North Main Street

SECOND QUARTER STATISTICS

In Out

April 456 453

May 401 345

June 484 716

Second Quarter Totals 1,341 1,514

With these latest numbers our chapter has now distributed 67,656 blankets!

Number of knitted dolls donated and distributed this quarter: 211

Weighted blankets donated to date: 1,019

CONTACTS

Chapter Coordinator

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Buncombe County

Ennis Julian 702-499-3567

Cherokee, Clay and Graham Counites

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Haywood County

Mariam Howell 828-456-5154

Henderson County

Helen McConnell 828-890-3067

Jackson and Macon Counties

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Madison County

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Mitchell County

Janet Jackson 661-319-8286

Transylvania County

Pat Crawford 828-883-8746

Yancy County

Asta Jeffcoat 828-682-4373