Goodrich – Providing security through blankets.
That’s the goal of Project Linus, an organization that donates an average of 350 blankets every month to local children who are seriously ill or traumatized.
Students in Adam Eickholt’s fourth grade class at Oaktree Elementary School made the decision to participate in the project and add a holiday twist this year by sewing Christmas blankets.
‘These blankets are better than toys,? said fourth grader Noah Cottrell. ‘They will give kids a bit of warmth this winter.?
Noah’s mom Debbie Cottrell brought the idea to Eickholt’s attention. ‘This project teaches kids service. It helps children not to think so much about me me me during Christmas,? she said.
Cottrell said they pre-cut the fleece material in big squares, cut long strips around the edges of both pieces and all the students have to do is tie the blankets together. ‘These are no-sew fleece blankets,? said Cottrell. We are going to take them to the Project Linus headquarters in Troy this Friday just in time for Christmas,? she said.
Officials from Project Linus, which has chapters in 50 states, say they are continuing to grow and it is their mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested groups in local communities for the benefit of children. The group was begun after a child going through intensive chemotherapy received a blanket and said it was her security blanket that helped her get through the treatments.
Project Linus said their blankets are collected locally and are distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies or anywhere that a child might be in need of a hug.
To learn more about how to participate in Project Linus, go to www.projectlinus.org.