Great Works by Stevens Middle School
From left: Carol Hughes (volunteer), Evelyn Ellsworth (advisor), Phoebe Kaleo, Ali Fitzsimmons, Vanessa Flanagan, Olivia Wray, Cecelia Kirkland and Marilyn Williams (Peninsula Project Linus member)
Project Linus Blankets for Seattle Children’s Hospital
Project Linus Club provides an opportunity for youth to get involved with helping others through crafting blankets. Evelyn Ellsworth, a Stevens Middle School para educator is the club’s advisor.
Students met as a group regularly in the library since last winter, and over the last few months completed 74 blankets. The group recently held an end of the year party, at which time all blankets were folded and presented to Phyllis Carey, Co-Ordinator of the Peninsula/Sequim Chapter of Project Linus, to be distributed to seriously ill children in Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Ellsworth sets up the project in the school library, where students can’t fail to notice. Club members have varying reasons for getting involved.
Cecelia Kirkland, seventh grader, felt drawn to the project, she said, because her little brother had been treated at Children’s Hospital long ago, and she well remembered the experience. Also, she used to make blankets with her grandmother.
Growing up, Phoebe Kaleo, seventh grader, watched Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang on television, and Linus was her favorite character. “This project can help a lot of people,” said Kaleo. “Do the small things and they will reach out in big ways.”
Alezandra Fitzsimmons, seventh grader, joined the group to remember her grandmother, who she lost to cancer. Hearing a classmate had been diagnosed with cancer impacted her. “You don’t know how fast things can change,” she said.
Ellsworth says this is the eleventh year she has involved Stevens Middle School students with Project Linus, in which time they have made nearly 500 blankets. Over the years, blankets have gone to Head Start, First Step, foster children, Hospice Alliance, as well as children and adults in need in the community.
Photo by Patsene Dashiell/Port Angeles School District
Stevens Middle School students made over 70 blankets during the school year to send to Seattle Children’s Hospital for Project Linus.
Project Linus Club provides an opportunity for youth to get involved with helping others through crafting blankets. Evelyn Ellsworth, a Stevens Middle School para educator is the club’s advisor.
Students met as a group regularly in the library since last winter, and over the last few months completed 74 blankets. The group recently held an end of the year party, at which time all blankets were folded and presented to Phyllis Carey, Co-Ordinator of the Peninsula/Sequim Chapter of Project Linus, to be distributed to seriously ill children in Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Ellsworth sets up the project in the school library, where students can’t fail to notice. Club members have varying reasons for getting involved.
Cecelia Kirkland, seventh grader, felt drawn to the project, she said, because her little brother had been treated at Children’s Hospital long ago, and she well remembered the experience. Also, she used to make blankets with her grandmother.
Growing up, Phoebe Kaleo, seventh grader, watched Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang on television, and Linus was her favorite character. “This project can help a lot of people,” said Kaleo. “Do the small things and they will reach out in big ways.”
Alezandra Fitzsimmons, seventh grader, joined the group to remember her grandmother, who she lost to cancer. Hearing a classmate had been diagnosed with cancer impacted her. “You don’t know how fast things can change,” she said.
Ellsworth says this is the eleventh year she has involved Stevens Middle School students with Project Linus, in which time they have made nearly 500 blankets. Over the years, blankets have gone to Head Start, First Step, foster children, Hospice Alliance, as well as children and adults in need in the community.
Photo by Patsene Dashiell/Port Angeles School District
Stevens Middle School students made over 70 blankets during the school year to send to Seattle Children’s Hospital for Project Linus.
WONDERFUL ANNUAL APPRECIATION TEA
The Washington Peninsula/Sequim Chapter was established by Pat Gracz and Bonnie Parker in the late 90’s and this year we celebrated another successful year of collecting beautiful blankets. National Headquarters reported delivering over 7million blankets in March 2018. Our Chapter has delivered 228,279 blankets to Seattle Children’s Hospital, Clallam/Jefferson County Headstart Programs, Foster Parent Liason Clallam/ Jefferson county, WIC in both Counties and to the Warming Center in Sequim. This year alone we have collected and distributed 1,239 blankets.
We have a child age 7 making blankets all the way to a blanketeer aged 94. There are 2 school programs involved in making blankets for us along with many church groups, knitting circles, and a 4 H group. Volunteers are very vital to the success of this chapter and to that end we have established a new Headquarters this year at 33 Valley Center Place. It is hoped that groups in need of blankets will come here and get blankets for the children along as a gathering place to work on blankets or to get supplies to make the blankets.
The Appreciation Tea was held June 3rd at the Gardiner Community Center. Dina Rae from the OlyCap Community Action Program was our guest speaker. Charity Van Ausdle with the help of her mother, Susie Van Ausdle and her family Russel and Erica provided the food and laid out a wonderful tea party atmosphere for us. Julie King was in attendance and received a certificate for making 2,593 plus the 24 blankets she turned in Sunday her grand total is 2,617 blankets since she joined Project Linus. Lucile Nilsen has turned in 1,924 blankets. Silverdale LDS has turned in 1,084 blankets - It is not a competition to see who turns in the most blankets it is just acknowledging the achievements of those that have given to the children in need.
Each and every blanketeers is appreciated for all efforts for their support and dedication to our cause even if it is 1 blanket a year or giving supplies and their time so that others can create the blankets. We received some wonderful donations to help set up our headquarters. Sewing machines, cutting table, irons and ironing boards just to name a few items. Supplies we have received are knitting needles which have already found a new home, lots of fabric and yarn which is available on a first come first serve situation….
May we continue to meet the needs of our community and have a heart filled with satisfaction knowing that in some small part we are bringing comfort into the homes of the little ones.
Thank you from my heart to yours for all that you do,
Hugs and Stitches,
Phyllis
We have a child age 7 making blankets all the way to a blanketeer aged 94. There are 2 school programs involved in making blankets for us along with many church groups, knitting circles, and a 4 H group. Volunteers are very vital to the success of this chapter and to that end we have established a new Headquarters this year at 33 Valley Center Place. It is hoped that groups in need of blankets will come here and get blankets for the children along as a gathering place to work on blankets or to get supplies to make the blankets.
The Appreciation Tea was held June 3rd at the Gardiner Community Center. Dina Rae from the OlyCap Community Action Program was our guest speaker. Charity Van Ausdle with the help of her mother, Susie Van Ausdle and her family Russel and Erica provided the food and laid out a wonderful tea party atmosphere for us. Julie King was in attendance and received a certificate for making 2,593 plus the 24 blankets she turned in Sunday her grand total is 2,617 blankets since she joined Project Linus. Lucile Nilsen has turned in 1,924 blankets. Silverdale LDS has turned in 1,084 blankets - It is not a competition to see who turns in the most blankets it is just acknowledging the achievements of those that have given to the children in need.
Each and every blanketeers is appreciated for all efforts for their support and dedication to our cause even if it is 1 blanket a year or giving supplies and their time so that others can create the blankets. We received some wonderful donations to help set up our headquarters. Sewing machines, cutting table, irons and ironing boards just to name a few items. Supplies we have received are knitting needles which have already found a new home, lots of fabric and yarn which is available on a first come first serve situation….
May we continue to meet the needs of our community and have a heart filled with satisfaction knowing that in some small part we are bringing comfort into the homes of the little ones.
Thank you from my heart to yours for all that you do,
Hugs and Stitches,
Phyllis
Setting Up Headquarters and Blankets Collected Recently
Peninsula Quilt Guild Exhibition
The 23rd Annual Peninsula Quilt Guild Exhibition in Ilwaco was March 16-18, 2018. With over 100 quilts on display in three separate galleries, this show exhibits work from some of the area’s most talented fabric artists, all members of the Peninsula Quilt Guild. These people did some amazing work.
This was a fun activity I did just to inspire myself. I was amazed with the color combinations and all the different ways to bring a quilt together.
If you place the cursor over the quilts on the right you can quickly scroll through them.
This was a fun activity I did just to inspire myself. I was amazed with the color combinations and all the different ways to bring a quilt together.
If you place the cursor over the quilts on the right you can quickly scroll through them.
February Make a Difference Collection Day
February 4th Make a Difference Blanket Collection Day
I apologize for the last-minute change in dates for the Gardiner Community Center however we still managed to collect 110 blankets for the day along with some therapy balls and some Beautiful Cloth Dolls in their own bag with changes of clothes.
I was very happy to make the deliveries To Seattle Children’s Hospital and to the Warming Center in Sequim.
I apologize for the last-minute change in dates for the Gardiner Community Center however we still managed to collect 110 blankets for the day along with some therapy balls and some Beautiful Cloth Dolls in their own bag with changes of clothes.
I was very happy to make the deliveries To Seattle Children’s Hospital and to the Warming Center in Sequim.
A Collection of Blankets to Remember
April Paige and Alex Created Wonderful Blankets
The kids and I made 6 fleece throws. They sewed some of them on the machine and they tied two of them. They chose different edging methods this time around. Their favorite ones are the braided edges. They enjoyed putting the blankets together and deciding how they wanted them to look. They also enjoyed imagining the age of the child that would be comforted by their blankets. It was a true joy listening to them and, as always, a fun project for us to do together. Made with a lot of Love and Hugs from April, Paige and Alex
A Celebration of Life for Joann West
The Celebration of Life will be held at Kings Way 4 Square Church on Kitchen Dick Road 11 a.m. November 18th. Joann made her goal of donating 1002 beautiful Project Linus Blankets.
She has touched the hearts of many with her blankets and generosity. We will miss her greatly. She thoroughly enjoyed sewing and received lots of personal fulfillment helping others even during her illness.
Walla Walla Quilt Show 2017 Pictures
2016 Trip to Elma with Marilyn and Sharon
Thank you so much for the wonderful donation of 800 pounds of batting from Warm Company. There is not a lot left - first come first serve gets it and another donation like that is not available this year.
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Thank You Marilyn and Jayne
Marilyn W and Jayne M represented Project Linus at the recent Salmon Bake held at the Boys & Girls club. They chatted with a number of people who were unfamiliar with Project Linus, sold raffle tickets for a lap quilt, received monetary donations and an inquiry about fabric donation. The salmon lunch was delicious!
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Past Articles
Congratulations! Blanketeer Reaches 2000 Blankets
It started 10 years ago with a box of fabric that I didn't just want to give away, but wanted to use. Once I saw the article once again, about Project Linus, I knew I had my answer...make blankets. So I did....the first 25 went really fast and finished off that box of fabric, so on to the next box and then it became 50. Boxes and bags of fabrics and bits and pieces yarn have come and gone. It is a little bit addictive, but enjoyable. Hopefully some kids and parents have gotten a small amount of comfort from the crooked seams and odd bits of color and fabrics.
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Stevens Middle School students Help with Blankets
Stevens Middle School students, under the guidance of adviser Evelyn Ellsworth and volunteer Carol Hughes, have worked after school since January 2016 making blankets for the Project Linus Washington Peninsula Chapter. Blankets were delivered to Children's Hospital in Seattle by Pat Gracz, former Project Linus coordinator for the Peninsula Chapter this past June 2016.
Ellsworth oversees the project that began ten years ago at the school. The colorful and warm blankets the students make are distributed to seriously ill children. Additionally, this year's Port Angeles High School (PAHS) Wellapalooza held in April sponsored a Blankets for Linus
Club session presented by Ellsworth and PAHS counselor Cecilia Jacobs. Eleven blankets were made at the session and when combined with the Stevens-made blankets a total of 51 blankets went for Project Linus.
(Wellapalooza, held April 29, was a school-wide event which promoted healthy activities, experiences, awareness and
choices.)
Project Linus Peninsula Chapter volunteers have delivered more than 18,000 blankets to area hospitals since 1997 when the first delivery was made by Gracz. Over 5 million blankets have been distributed nation-wide by Project Linus chapters. The Group will be starting up again this January 2017so watch for more exciting details about their events.
Accompanying photo shows Stevens Middle School students as they show blankets made this year. Left to
right, are: Carol Hughes (volunteer), Meagan McCann, Ashley Frantz, Carter Droz, Catherine Wright, Jessica
McGoff and advisor Evelyn Ellsworth. Photo Credit: Port Angeles School District
Ellsworth oversees the project that began ten years ago at the school. The colorful and warm blankets the students make are distributed to seriously ill children. Additionally, this year's Port Angeles High School (PAHS) Wellapalooza held in April sponsored a Blankets for Linus
Club session presented by Ellsworth and PAHS counselor Cecilia Jacobs. Eleven blankets were made at the session and when combined with the Stevens-made blankets a total of 51 blankets went for Project Linus.
(Wellapalooza, held April 29, was a school-wide event which promoted healthy activities, experiences, awareness and
choices.)
Project Linus Peninsula Chapter volunteers have delivered more than 18,000 blankets to area hospitals since 1997 when the first delivery was made by Gracz. Over 5 million blankets have been distributed nation-wide by Project Linus chapters. The Group will be starting up again this January 2017so watch for more exciting details about their events.
Accompanying photo shows Stevens Middle School students as they show blankets made this year. Left to
right, are: Carol Hughes (volunteer), Meagan McCann, Ashley Frantz, Carter Droz, Catherine Wright, Jessica
McGoff and advisor Evelyn Ellsworth. Photo Credit: Port Angeles School District
