Our first official 'Charity of the Month' is
Project Linus. The Project Linus Mission (copied from their website with permission):
'Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission which is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
Together we have distributed over three million blankets to children in need since our inception in 1995.'
Something as small and simple as a blanket, bringing comfort to seriously ill children. I first came in contact with Project Linus due to a close friend and her daughter's heart problems at birth. She had TOTAL ANAMOLUS PULMONARY VEINUS RETURN or TAPVR. A rare heart defect. She had 2 veins curved back into the same heart chamber. At the Children's Hospital in Oakland, doctors (including one brought in from Stanford) had to remove the problem veins, and a create pathway for the blood to flow properly to the other chambers. They just closed off the bad chamber, and she now has a unique 3 chambered heart. She also had a problem with a valve they were able to repair, but compared to the TAPVR this secondary problem was very minor. Volunteers crocheted her a hat and brought her stuffed animals.
She is now healthy and happy and growing like any other girl her age, and I know the kindness and gifts from people they didn't even know, were a welcome blessing to the family during such a scary time.
In honor of my dear friend, we are donating 10% of all the "awareness" sales in our ArtFire store for the entire month of September to Project Linus. AND:
In addition my mom will be donating this
'Baby Spies' crib quilt that she made especially for her
local Project Linus chapter (along with any other blankets she finishes or collects from family, friends, and neighbors!). The quilt was designed with bright colors and fanciful novelty fabrics with pictures of things a very young child would find fun...like trains, candy, mermaids, dogs, cats, zoo animals, dragons, dinosaurs...and so much more. All done in 100% cotton fabrics for lasting durability and with Warm and Safe batting which is Eco-Friendly, Naturally Fire Retardant, Non Toxic, Non Allergenic and Chemical Free.
And now for the Giveaway . . .
'Baby Spies' Crib Quilt Kit
Everything you need to make your own 'Baby Spies' quilt, except a sewing machine and time...hopefully you already have those. The kit will include 48 pre-cut squares of 100% cotton novelty fabrics (the same ones used in the pictured quilt above, 192 pre-cut triangles from 100% cotton Pizazz fabric (the same colors used in the pictured quilt above), binding, backing, Warm and Safe Crib Batting, a spool of white thread, and instructions with pictures. Finished crib quilt will measure approximately 36" X 48".
Note from Mom: Project Linus is dear to my heart because of the wonderful people at San Joaquin Hospital where my grandson Skyler and his twin brother Sonny were delivered 2 months early and spent several weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where they received tiny little knitted caps and mittens, Children's Hospital of Oakland where Skyler had surgery to remove a computer battery that had lodged in his esophagus and been misdiagnosed for several weeks leading to scar tissue that had to be removed and his esophagus dilated every other week for several months and where he received a small teddy bear with scrubs and a mask on every visit (I believe he has 12 of the little teddies),
U.C. Davis Hospital where Skyler was airlifted via helicopter due to a near drowning and was given a flannel blanket with rubber ducks, and last (hopefully!!!) to Kootenai General Hospital where Skyler was taken by ambulance to have stitches put in two very deep cuts after falling and landing on glass and where he was given a fleece blanket with crocheted edging. Skyler and Sonny just turned 5 and Sonny thinks it is unfair that Skyler keeps getting to go to the hospital in ambulances and helicopters and gets teddy bears and blankets and he has never been to the doctor except for checkups and shots where all they give you is stickers and sometimes a sucker. Thank you to all the wonderful doctors and nurses out there who give so much of themselves each and every day, and thank you to all the volunteers who lend their time and their hearts to make others feel comforted.
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This drawing ends at midnight on September 30th (MST, -7:00 GMT). Winner will be chosen from all eligible entries using random.org on October 1st. Winner will be notified via email and will have 3 business days to claim prize (by providing shipping information) or a new winner will be selected from the remaining entries.
