Click the picture to learn about our director, Peggy Albertson, winning the Jefferson Award.

Blankets Delivered: National HQ - - 3,011,944 blankets from 378 chapters

Our Numbers:  Blankets delivered since inception:  19,250

Quiltmaker Magazine has been a supporter of Project Linus since 2000. It's hard to believe that they are working on their 10th pattern for Project Linus! We are always so thrilled to see the new pattern created by Quiltmaker Magazine for our National Make a Blanket Day and this year is no exception. Be sure to check the upcoming issues of Quiltmaker for the new Project Linus pattern! Although we can't spill the beans we can tell you that "the sky is the limit" when it comes to the 2010 pattern! If you haven't gone to Quiltmaker Magazine's website recently, they have undergone a facelift . On their site you can view and download all the previous years' Project Linus patterns:

http://www.quiltmaker.com/patterns/projectlinus.html

Let's support the church that supports us and join in on the Spring Work Day.
It will be fun. New people, new jobs and new appreciations for all.

Salem Spring Work Day on Saturday, April 24, 2010

Many tasks to be completed:  Inside cleaning the church walls, windows, and church pews.  Pick up the small brush that was the remains of the winter.  We have gutters to be cleaned and much raking.  Cut the remains of the flowering spring bushes.  We need all of your to help with upkeep of Salem.

PROJECT LINUS DISASTER RELIEF

. . . From Project Linus Vice President, Mary Balagna:

“We knew the request would come - and now it's time for every chapter to enter. Are you ready? Here's the scoop: We have an urgent need for 10,000 blankets for the children in Haiti. From the e-mails that we have received from the general public recently - people all across the country are turning to Project Linus, once again, to offer to help us make blankets for the children affected by this horrible earthquake in Haiti. In fact, we've gotten quite a name for ourselves! That's a good thing! Our contact with "Heart to Heart" International has requested 10,000 blankets by March 1, 2010. I told them we could do it. Yes - I have complete confidence that our blanketeers and chapters across the country will rally together for this very, very worthy effort.” Please go to www.hearttoheart.org if you would like to check out the organization and their efforts.

For your information, Project Linus is VERY careful about working with reputable and established organizations. Our initial contact with the Red Cross referred us to a list of organizations assisting with the relief effort and we have been working with those organizations. I contacted each organization and have heard back from many. Heart to Heart International and Christian Aid Ministries have been the first groups to receive our blankets. World Vision has asked us to participate in sending blankets to orphaned children who will be either brought to Miami or remain in Haiti. This will hopefully take place in about a month. Of course, the relief effort is VERY unpredictable and I can't guarantee anything beyond what we already know.”

Soon after this request, Mary received another request for 10,000 more blankets for the Christian Aid Ministries. Our chapter has committed to send 100 blankets to each organization.

We need blankets ASAP and will be shipping them by mid-February. They can be any size or type, but PLEASE, if you are making fleece blankets, make SINGLE layer fleece - we need to keep weight and shipping costs in mind and double layers are very heavy! Please drop them off at any of our drop-off sites during their normal business hours or at our Project Linus House on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. We are also asking for donations for shipping. Checks can be written to "Project Linus" with "Postage for Haiti - Fort Wayne” written in the memo and mailed to me at 1711 Greythorn Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46815 or directly to Project Linus HQ at PO Box 5621, Bloomington, IL 61702. Please be sure to note "Postage for Haiti - Fort Wayne" on the check.

Thank you in advance for your love and continued support of Project Linus.

Christian Aid Ministries

Wed. Nov. 11 - GOOD NEWS! NEW NEWS!
After almost a year of looking for a job, I have been fortunate enough to find what I hope will be the perfect part-time position. I am excited about this new adventure; but also nervous and apprehensive about adjusting to a new schedule, learning a new job, and (as it relates to all of you) making changes that will affect our Project Linus Chapter.

After talking with a handful of our senior (in terms of time spent with our group) volunteers and my family, the following has been decided:

* Through the end of this year, the Workshop will continue to be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Betsy, Pat and Jan have agreed to oversee the work and activities at the house in my absence.

* Beginning January 1, 2010, we will slim down to one day a week - Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This will allow an opportunity for those who can to continue to come to the Project Linus House during the day; and will allow those who work full-time, as well as those who prefer afternoon/early evening, opportunities to be involved in the routine activities of the Chapter.

* Pauline has agreed to continue to oversee the unchanged SSSS (Saturday Sew-Sew Sisterhood) schedule which will meet the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. SSSS will not meet during the months of January, August and December.

Should we run into emergency needs, I will send an e-mail asking for help, detailing the specific need, as well as the date and hours to meet.

This new schedule will be a work in progress just as the evolution of our Chapter has been in it’s nearly six years. My confidence in all of you has never been higher, and I am sure that we will continue to thrive and be successful.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments about these changes, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me. I will remain, as always, available and eager to listen as we continue on this journey together.

SALEM UCC FISH FRY
Thank you to all who cut potatoes; battered fish; baked pies, cakes and cookies; wrapped silverware; cleared tables; served dinner rolls; poured drinks; ran fish; organized trash, etc., etc., The Salem United Church of Christ’s Fish Fry was another successful event. 394 meals were served and the profit of $729.25 will be applied to the utilities to help keep our Project Linus House warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Thank you Salem UCC for continuing to support us!

NEED FOR BLANKETS
Unfortunately, Project Linus has been affected by the economy just like everyone else. Blanket donations are down and the need continues to grow! As we enter the holiday season, our schedules get busier, the days get shorter and our budget gets tighter. Please keep our children in your thoughts and prayers – no matter what their family situation is, what their family income is, what their need is – a child in crisis needs to feel the love, comfort and security from our blankets.

WEATHER CLOSINGS
Be safe and be wise! If the Fort Wayne Community Schools are closed due to weather conditions, the Project Linus House will be closed. If the weather turns bad during a regular meeting time, we will close. If there is any question at all, please don’t take any chances and do not hesitate to call me. Your safety is of the utmost importance!

It's official! - - - - We won!

Our information is from Sue- Julie's Mom. Richard (we think the President of Avlyn) called Pieced Together Friday and told them that our 219 quilts were significantly more than our nearest competitor.

All that aside, we did it! Every minute that each of you contributed paid off in a BIG way! As Nancy suggests, think of it this way - Our group has more foresight and determination and more giving and energetic people than any other group in the United States - perhaps in the world! (Is Fons & Porter an international magazine?)

Is there anything we cannot together accomplish? We are so grateful to all of you, and proud to call you our friends.

Sincerely,
Pauline and Nancy

Thank you to all the wonderful people
who helped make 219 Komfort Kids Quilts!

Top row, left to right: Sandy Hellewege, Betsy Gemmer, Nancy Love, Shelly Gilliland, Teresa Wade, Lisa Clements Kathy Parrish

Middle row: Kay Crowder, Elaine Crowder, Joyce Pickett, Linda Balthaser, Jan Walters, Berne Breon, Diana Fisher, Lu Bultemeier, Pauline Sobona, Betty Somers, Kathy Calder

Front row: Peggy Albertson, Julie Smith

Not pictured: Silvan Krel, Anne Moll, Gretchen Hughes, Mary Chase, Janet Ahr, Linda Webster, Margaret Miller, Kerry Sobona, Deb Heath, Laurey Campain, Pauline Flynn, Toni Kring, Dianne Rapson, Rachel Prince, Deena Patten, Lucy Ninness, Jessie Bloom, Sharon Krinn, Vicki Fisher, Linda McCampbell, Janice Thieme, Judy Dewald, Janet Green, Colleen Hall and Jane Love…..and Salem United Church of Christ for allowing us to use the parsonage for our Project Linus House.

Click here to see the more pictures

Our Fifth Year Anniversary Celebration

Thank you to all who attended our anniversary celebration, helped with the preparation or made donations.  It was a beautiful day and we hope to continue to deliver blankets to children for many more years.  We also thank you for your continued support.   

Click here to read more and see the pictures.

 

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.

I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

God determines who walks into your life ....it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.  Unknown

As always, my sincere thanks to each and everyone for supporting our chapter and making so many blanket hugs available to the children in our community.

Peggy Albertson
PROJECT LINUS Chapter Coordinator
Fort Wayne/NE Indiana Chapter
260/749-6595
pegalb@msn.com

We welcome your gifts or donations.  Examples of our needs are:   
 
45 or 60 mm rotary blades                                 . . . . .               4-ply washable yarn
1 ½ yard cut of fleece                                                                thread
F or G crochet hooks                                                                   fabric markers
fabric shears 
Gift cards:  Wal-Mart, JoAnn’s, Michaels, Hancock or Hobby Lobby

Thanks to Doris Regnier for the WELCOME sign for our Project Linus House at the end of the church parking lot. 

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sign at the end of the parking lot . . . . .. . . . . . Reverse side of the sign.. . . . .