Crocheters working hard to make blankets for hurt, sick kids

Susan Kenyon learned to crochet back in 1967 and now faces a challenge.

“One thing about knitters and crocheters is once your family has all the hats and scarves, we can't stop knitting and crocheting. Then what do you do with that?” Kenyon said.

The Libertyville resident discovered a solution — Project Linus.

The nonprofit organization features chapters across the United States where volunteers provide love, warmth and comfort to children with a gift of a handmade blanket.

Linda Neuman, who with Judi Goldman coordinates the North and Central Chicagoland chapters, said Project Linus has two missions.

The first is to provide blankets for seriously ill or traumatized children. Blankets, made by volunteers or donated to drop-off sites, are given to hospitals, women's shelters and social service agencies across the Chicago area. The Kid's Corner within the Lake County Courthouse also receives blankets.

“We've been able to make a difference in so many lives. It's not just the children, but it's also their families who benefit,” Neuman said.

The second mission is to provide an opportunity for people to help others.

Kenyon learned about Project Linus while working at a Grayslake craft store, which served as a site where people could drop off blankets. As founder of Crochet Guild of America Grayslake chapter, she later had the chapter help Project Linus as their community service project.

To explain what crocheting for Project Linus means to her, Kenyon recalls her aha moment. A 7-year-old concert pianist was asked why he plays. He said, “It charges my heart.”

“That is what working with Project Linus does. It charges my heart,” she said.

While many blankets can be dropped off at donation sites, many are knit or crocheted at blanket bees that Kenyon and volunteers attend monthly at Northbrook United Methodist Church.

While she has taught people how to crochet for years, Kenyon admits there are intricate blankets she has seen others make and she enjoys coming to the bees to learn.

“It's so much fun that I started taking a blank notebook with me because someone is doing a crochet stitch I have never seen so I will ask what they are doing. It's a chance to share like a quilting bee,” she said.

Volunteers also gather for fleece day, Kenyon said, where they check donated blankets to remove pins and handsew a Project Linus satin tag onto each.

Most materials used to make blankets are donated. But recently, Kenyon discovered a surprising source.

Visiting the thrift store at Lambs Farm, Kenyon discovered 400 skeins of acrylic yarn donated by a family. Working with staff, she was able to buy the yarn at a discount for the blankets.

“Lambs Farm is benefiting from the sale of this yarn. Project Linus is benefiting from it. But in the end, it is the kids — about 100 kids — who will benefit,” she said.

Since its inception, the Chicagoland chapter has given out more than 80,000 blankets. What amazes Kenyon is 80,000 children needed blankets. As the need grows, Kenyon said she and fellow volunteers will continue to make blankets with love.

“All we want is for them to know that someone cares,” she said.

For information about Project Linus, including donation sites, visit the website http://projectlinuschicago.webs.com.