Creating a sense of security: Project Linus providing handmade blankets to kids in need

Photos: Creating a sense of comfort with Project Linus

Feb 7, 2024

It’s a Monday morning at the Bear Canyon Senior Center in Northeast Albuquerque, which means the weekly knit and crochet volunteer group for Project Linus is meeting inside Classroom 5 at the center.

Roughly 30 volunteers sit at tables arranged in a large square. Each of them is hard at work knitting and crocheting handmade blankets. The room is full of busy hands, smiling faces and colorful yarn.

Established in 1999, the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County chapter of Project Linus, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in January, carries out a twofold mission: to provide love and sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are either ill, traumatized or otherwise in need of the gift of a handmade blanket; and give the community a chance to be involved in a meaningful service opportunity.

Named after the blanket-carrying Linus featured in Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip, Project Linus is a nationwide organization with volunteer chapters in all 50 states. Since 1998, Project Linus has distributed more than 9 million blankets to children around the world, according to its website, projectlinus.org.

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County chapter has provided roughly 87,555 blankets to the community during its 25-year existence as of December.

“That’s the most important thing to me — it gives (the children) a sense of wrapping themselves up in something that’s warm and pleasurable,” said Sue Kelly, chapter coordinator.

Kelly started as a volunteer “blanketeer,” making blankets for Project Linus in 2003. In 2016, she ascended to blanket manager of the chapter. As chapter coordinator since 2019, Kelly now oversees 250 volunteers in seven different knitting, crochet and quilting groups spread all across Bernalillo County that create blankets for Project Linus. Most of her days now are spent visiting the different groups, picking up the blankets they make.

There are also 13 blanket and yarn drop-off sites in Albuquerque and Edgewood, where those who may not be skilled with knitting, quilting or crocheting can leave goods for Project Linus.

On Monday morning, Kelly and fellow volunteers Pan Brandt, Mary McCleolan and Jeannine Steidl were hard at work packing handmade and donated blankets into bags so they could be stored and distributed to local partners.

“I love it,” Steidl said. “So many friendships have been formed and the amazing work (volunteers) do, it makes you feel good.”

While Project Linus doesn’t directly hand out the blankets, its community partners that do often report back about the impact they have on the children.

“We don’t know who gets the blankets, but we always get notes, letters and pictures from people and organizations,” McCleolan said. “It’s nice to see the pictures.”

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County chapter provides blankets for over 35 community organizations, including the Albuquerque Police Department, Albuquerque Fire and Rescue and Albuquerque Public Schools. McCleolan made a delivery on Monday to Casa Esperanza.

Walking through the front door with several bags full of blankets, McCleolan may not know who will receive the blankets, but her heart is full knowing what it will mean to that child.

“It’s nice to know where they go. I really like that,” she said.