By Emma Bowen Meyer
May 08, 2008 07:23 am
—
PENDLETON — Colorful material picturing dragons and flames, squirrels in a berry patch, cute little puppy dogs and characters from the Pixar movie “Cars” were draped across tables at Ashbury Pointe Apartments as several women measured off inches and pricked their fingers to comfort children they had never met.
What started out as an activity to keep residents of the senior-living apartments connected and busy has turned into an outreach to children who are seriously ill or have been traumatized. Janice Willey, resident and activity coordinator for the complex, has recently been named the Madison County Chapter Coordinator of Project Linus.
“After moving into the Ashbury Pointe Senior Living Apartments, I became involved in setting up activities to keep residents busy,” she said. “One idea was an ‘Old Fashioned Sewing Bee.’ After searching the net for ideas, I came across Project Linus and thought this would be something good for the entire area.”
Project Linus — named after the blanket-toting character in the “Peanuts” comic strip — is a national, all-volunteer organization that provides comfort and security to hurting children through the donation of handmade blankets. Started after one woman saw how a little girl was comforted by a blanket throughout her chemotherapy treatments, the organization has now comforted more than 2 million children by providing blankets.
Each chapter raises its own funds and enlists “blanketeers” from the community to create these special gifts for the children. Willey’s group has already sent blankets to 10 children who suffered from a house fire in Alexandria, 20 to Women’s Alternatives, and three to Dove Harbor. Sixty-eight more have been requested by other agencies.
But material costs money and Willey’s resources were soon depleted. Fortunately, the South Madison Community Foundation stepped in and presented a check for $250 last Tuesday.
“We have orders to make 68 more blankets and were coming to a halt because don’t have that much material,” Willey said as she thanked Dick Creger during the presentation. “We really needed the material.”
Creger announced to the group that the funds were made possible from the earnings of the Milestone Ventures Community Support Endowment Fund, founded by Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Heintzelman and Carla Naum.
Individuals in the group have been using the Senior Enhancement and Fulfillment Program offered by Ashbury Pointe (through that same endowment fund) for blanket material. This program was instituted to help enrich and improve the quality of life for the residents and will offset costs associated with taking classes, purchasing theatre tickets, acquiring a musical instrument, or a host of other options.
Rather than using these funds for themselves, residents have been using them to help the efforts of Project Linus.
“I love it here; I should have moved here when they first opened the apartments,” said Mary Palmer, hunched over her blanket. “I made my first quilt when I was 9 years old. Back then I had Mom to help me, but now I’m on my own.”
“(Willey) doesn’t like seeing the residents spend time alone in their apartments,” said Timothy Ryan, manager of the apartments. “We’re really proud of her and what she’s doing.”
“I just think (Willey) has done a fabulous job,” said Bonnie Gardner, resident and blanketeer. “She’s been very dedicated. It’s a great cause, it’s a really nice thing to do, and it’s within walking distance for me.”
“It reflects on the community — not just the individual, but the community,” said another blanketeer.
“There are many opportunities to participate in the success of this project in Madison County,” said Willey. “In addition to individuals, churches, social groups and senior centers, clubs such as 4-H, the Boy and Girl Scouts and schools can coordinate projects to make blankets or help raise much needed funds to purchase materials.”
Willey is excited that blanketeering groups are starting in Alexandria and Lapel. She is hoping more groups will join her effort and become blanketeers or people will craft blankets at home and donate them to the cause.
She can also make use of donations of fabric, batting, yarn, fabric markers, thread, pins, rotary cutters, needles, scissors, postage stamps, plastic totes, ink cartridges, paper, gift certificates and monetary donations. Sewing machines, quilting tables and long folding tables are also in need.
Contact Janice Willey by calling (765) 778-3688 or writing janicetbox@yahoo.com. Donations can be mailed to her at Janice Willey, Coordinator Madison County, IN Chapter Linus Project, 100 Ashwood Drive No. 35, Pendleton, IN 46064.
To learn more about the national organization, visit www.projectlinus.org.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.