Homemade Blankets Donated to Kids in Need

The Oak Park Chapter of the national charitable organization Project Linus, has recently made and donated four dozen blankets to be distributed to impoverished children in DuPage and Kane Counties served by the Humanitarian Service Project (HSP.) The mission of Project Linus is to “provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort” to needy children by providing them homemade blankets crafted by volunteer “blanketeers.” Blankets made by the organization are specifically given to children in need due to illness, trauma, or, as in this case, poverty. The four dozen blankets will be included in a birthday box as a surprise for local children in need served by HSP's Children's Birthday Project.

The Children's Birthday Project serves over 900 disadvantaged children throughout DuPage and Kane between the ages of 3-11. Every year on the child's birthday they receive a “Birthday Box”, which includes 6-10 new toys, 6 books, stuffed animals as well as party and school supplies. Every box ensures that each child will have a fun-filled and memorable birthday. Children served by the program also receive gifts at Christmas time through HSP's Christmas Offering. HSP also provides food for 150 and 100 of the neediest families enrolled in this program at different times of the year through their Christmas Offering and summertime Feed the Kids program.