Chapter Update

Greetings all!  We’re almost into April—where does the time go?  The last year has been quite the ride for everyone.

Nevada County is emerging from the pandemic, slowly and steadily, similar to a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.  The future is looking up and we’ll hopefully turn a corner soon.  In the meantime, we appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to navigate this pandemic.  There are times when it feels we’re knocking our heads against a brick wall.  Then, some small thing will pop up and provide the needed encouragement to push forward.

We continue to ask everyone to hold on to their blankets/quilts until such time as the agencies we serve are ready to take them.  A long time Truckee Blanketeer (since 2005!) was able to deliver 13 blankets to Tahoe Forest on behalf of our Chapter.  Sierra Nevada still accepts blankets we deliver to their ER door, although we’re not allowed to enter the hospital.

If you are interested in donating blankets for children 5-19, the Placer County Office of Education will host their annual Family Fair, providing school supplies and various items to children in need.  A member of the Auburn Airport group that supports our Nevada County Chapter is once again coordinating efforts to collect items for the PCOE event (see below for info on last year’s event).  Our Chapter will host a collection sometime in July; details to be announced.  The Sacramento Chapter of Project Linus will also be supporting this event.

If you have any questions, at any time, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  In the meantime, thank you for your patience and support.  Stay safe!

A Local Thank You!

We received this e-mail this morning.  What a great way to start the day! Nevada County Chapter Blanketeers—this one’s for YOU!  Thank you for your support!

Hello,

My 3 year old daughter broke her elbow (or so we think) last night but was comforted by your beautiful quilt. The effort and love is obvious and I sew as well so I appreciate all your fine work and care. The Poem on the tag had me in tears as both my daughter and I have shared many in the past 12 hours.

I just wanted to extend my deep gratitude for what you do. I was very much a “Linus kid” with the thumb and my “silky”. Both my daughters are too.  My daughter is a thumb sucker and unfortunately it is that arm that she injured to make her matters worse she cannot comfort herself that way. She picked a beautiful quilt with yellows and reds and it will be cherished for years to come.

With lots of love for what you do.

Sincerely,

(name withheld for privacy)

Truckee, Ca.

General Chapter Info, Part 1

There has been quite a bit of behind-the-scenes administrative activity at the Chapter this last month.  We’ve also gained quite a few new-to-our-Chapter Blanketeers.  As a result, we’re reaching out to all volunteers, aka “Blanketeers”, and supporters of our Nevada County Chapter in an effort to update/clarify information on Project Linus and our Nevada County Chapter.  This is the first of a series of posts as to what Project Linus, and specifically our Nevada County Chapter, is all about and what we do.

Nevada County encompasses a large area, most of which is rural, stretching from just south of Combie Road in Auburn all the way to Truckee.  The Nevada County Chapter was established in March of 2005 as a way of giving back to a Community we love.  We’re a small Chapter—-we like to think “small but mighty”—-and lack the fanfare of a larger metropolitan Chapter, but we have a strong group of supporters.  We distribute to the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley and the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, Child Advocates, Child Protective Services, domestic violence agencies and occasionally, agencies assisting the homeless (sadly, there are homeless children).  When opening the Chapter, we pledged to keep all donated blankets in Nevada County—-unless a donor specifies otherwise—-and we’ve stayed true to that commitment.

Our small Nevada County Chapter has many Blanketeers, volunteers and supporters.  We maintain an e-mail list for use in distributing information about the Chapter, including thank you notes, kudos and general group info.  This e-mail list is private and not shared.  Choosing to receive e-mail updates is strictly an individual choice—-if you’d rather not receive info from our Chapter, just let me know and we’ll “unsubscribe” you.  Our Chapter blog has general information including updates, blanket guidelines, donation drop-off locations, etc.

Donations are a very personal thing.  A donor has complete control over where they donate and to whom they donate.  Project Linus does not have “rules” about who can donate where.  A gift is a gift and our Chapter has the responsibility to be grateful and appreciative, no matter what.  To be clear, while we encourage and appreciate support of our Nevada County Chapter, anyone can donate a blanket, blanket making materials or make a monetary donation to any Project Linus Chapter.  There are no territorial restrictions and a person is not required to “register” with any Chapter to volunteer and/or donate.  Having said all that, we are continually mindful of the fact the Nevada County Chapter could not do what we do without the support of our dedicated volunteers and we appreciate all who support our Chapter.

Next up, blanket guidelines.  Stay tuned and until then, thank you for your support!

A Local Thank You!

We received this via e-mail from a grateful parent:

My daughter broke her arm on the playground at school. She was fortunate enough to receive one of your charming blankets at Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee CA. This blanket is beautiful, and we keep it as a keepsake. We appreciate your loving kindness.

Thank you to the Blanketeers of the Project Linus Nevada County Chapter!   You are appreciated!

A Local Thank You!

We received this via e-mail yesterday from a grateful Mom:

My 5-year-old daughter was taken to the ER at Tahoe Forest Hospital over the holidays. She had what, at first, seemed a benign accident playing in the snow with her cousins. After an hour or two of persistent symptoms, we decided to take her to the hospital, where we learned she had a fractured skull. It was very unexpected, very frightening … and we were completely unprepared for what was escalating to be an airlift situation to another hospital. When we explained we wouldn’t be going back to the cabin that night, my daughter was very upset that she didn’t have her favorite blanket with her for the night. The nurse overheard, and within minutes came back with a Project Linus blanket. This gift and this gesture calmed her immediately and made her feel very special.

Thank you so much for your work and dedication to helping children (and their families) during a very vulnerable and scary time. It may not seem like much, but this blanket that was made with love and care was exactly what my little girl needed at that moment in time.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

A big thank you to all the generous people in our Community who support us and allow us to provide blankets to children in need!

Where do our Project Linus blankets go?

This rates as a frequently asked question.  And rightfully so!  Our volunteers aka Blanketeers, spend countless hours and precious funds making blankets and quilts to donate to our Nevada County Chapter.  We appreciate and respect the efforts of our Blanketeers, making sure the facilities and agencies we deliver to feel the same.

Currently, our main regular recipients are both Nevada County hospitals—Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley and the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee.  Child Advocates also receives regular deliveries.  Other recipients include the annual Beale Baby Shower program, domestic violence agencies and Child Protective Services.  These are not regulars, but we deliver when they are in need.  Once or twice a year, our Chapter sends letters to 10-20 County agencies reminding these children’s agencies that we’re here for them if they need blankets.

Please be assured our Chapter is protective of who gets donated blankets.  If the agency is unappreciative or does not comply with our distribution guidelines, donations to that agency will be discontinued.

We value  our Blanketeers and the support they provide!  Our Nevada County Project Linus Chapter could not do what we do without them!

A Local Thank You!

Our Chapter received this lovely thank you card from grateful parents.  Their daughter received a Project Linus blanket at the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee.  Thank you to all the Blanketeers who support our Chapter and make a difference in a child’s life!

A Local Thank You……

We received a very emotional thank you from a grandmother in the Truckee area.  Her young granddaughter was rushed to the Tahoe Forest Hospital for a chronic illness and quite agitated and anxious over the ordeal.  The hospital nurse gave the young patient a Project Linus blanket (pink and yellow flowers) and the young girl was immediately calmed by the blanket.  The grandmother was amazed at the transformation and very appreciative of our efforts (to the point of tears during our phone call).  She asked that I pass along her thanks to all of our volunteers.

These calls are bittersweet for us….no one wants to hear of a child in crisis, but we’re all glad we’re able to offer comfort by doing what we do.  Thank you Project Linus Blanketeers!

Yet Another Local Kudo!

We received the following letter this week from the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee:

Dear Project Linus Nevada County:

On behalf of all of us at Tahoe Forest Health System, we wish to extend our most sincere gratitude for your recent donation of hand-made quilts and baby blankets for children in crisis.

We so much appreciate the time and effort your volunteers put into creating such lovely items that will provide much comfort to a child in need.  Our Med-Surge staff graciously accepted these items and will utilize them for these special circumstances.

Please extend our thank you to your entire team of volunteers who are making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Sincerely,

Tahoe Forest Health System

Blanketeers, this one is for you!  Thanks for your support!

A Local Thank You!

Amy called this morning and left this message on our voice mail:

“My daughter was very sick recently and we took her to the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee.  She’s fine now, but at the end of her visit, she was given one of your beautiful Project Linus quilts.  I can’t tell you how much this quilt made her visit more pleasant.  She loved the quilt and it put a smile on her face.  Since then, she’s been using the quilt for her dolls and just loves it.  We just wanted to thank you for your generosity.  People like you make this world such a better place to be in. Thank you and my daughter thanks you.”

Not a bad way to start the day, right?  This thanks goes to our Project Linus Blanketeers!  As I continually say, we couldn’t do what we do without those who support us!