Wrapped in warmth and comfort

Special to The Bee

Project Linus is an organization that was first established in 1995 in order to donate blankets to children in need. In 2022, Debra Beaumont started a new Project Linus chapter for the Northeast Texas area, covering seven counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Franklin, Morris, Titus, and Hopkins.

The Northeast Chapter of Project Linus will have its second anniversary on June 10. After last speaking to the Pittsburg Gazette, there has been a lot of growth for this organization’s chapter and Beaumont was able to give an update about the chapter’s current status. Beaumont shared that since the chapter’s start, they have made 1302 blankets and this year alone have made 376.

“Our main goal is to help kids going through trauma,” states Beaumont. Project Linus’s Northeast Texas Chapter works with many organizations to supply these blankets to children who have gone through instances including, but not limited to, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and accidents. They work with hospitals such as CHRISTUS in Texarkana, Sulphur Springs, and Atlanta, UT Health Pittsburg, and Titus Regional in Mount Pleasant. Camp Braveheart, Expectant Heart, and CASA are also organizations that they partner with. As of May 30 of this year, Beaumont has been able to get in touch with CPS and will start working with them as well.

Some of the biggest challenges the Northeast Texas Chapter has experienced are having enough volunteers, spreading the word, and having a location near I-30 where the group can meet on a regular basis. Luckily, the group of “blanketeers” have a location in Lone Star where they have been able to meet, but with covering seven counties, one location is not enough.

The Texarkana, New Boston, and Atlanta areas are some of the places where Beaumont would like to reach out to more potential blanketeers. Beaumont states that people who are willing to tie tops of quilts would be very helpful. There are many types of blanketeers, from those who are able to create a quilt from start to finish and make every stitch, to those who can simply tie a knot, iron fabric, coordinate colors, or just help organize. Beaumont would also appreciate a volunteer who has IT skills.

Beaumont shares that this chapter has over 100 blanketeers and many of those blanketeers make several blankets in a month or even in a week. “They are amazing,” Beaumont expresses when she discusses the blanketeers. She shares that it is amazing what the blanketeers can do with some of the scrap fabrics or unfinished projects that get donated. One of the blanketeers, Peggy, was able to take partial crochet squares and add a border to create an entire blanket. Ms. Helen at 92-yearsold ties quilts and can make on average four blankets a week.

One of Beaumont’s favorite things is, “Knowing that we’re doing such great things for the kids.” She also loves when they receive thank you notes from parents and grandparents.

A frequent question Beaumont is asked is what size the blankets need to be. Beaumont states that they will take any size, no measurements are necessary, and, “If you can picture a child cuddling up with it, that’s the perfect size.” Beaumont also expresses the importance of receiving supplies that would benefit these children by stating, “These kids need something special,” and emphasizes those receiving blankets have had truly traumatic experiences.

The three biggest expenses for Project Linus are fleece, batting for the inside of quilts, and plastic bags for the blankets to be donated in. When looking towards the future, Beaumont would love to have dyes for more variations and a permanent location where blanketeers can meet.

Beaumont has expressed that the Northeast Texas Chapter of Project Linus is able and willing to work with companies, businesses, and youth oriented organizations that are in need of team building days. On a blanket making day, 30 volunteers could make 40 blankets. She also states, “I dream about having more time to actually do the quilting and make the blankets.” Another goal is to try to work with pediatric clinics and school districts.

Additionally, as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, Project Linus can provide a great choice to those in need of volunteer experience on their resumes, transcripts, or even probation obligations.

With over 300 chapters in the United States, Project Linus has only three paid staff members: a project coordinator for the entire organization, a store clerk/administrator, and a part time IT specialist. In the country, there are about one million volunteers that help Project Linus reach over 10 million people.

Project Linus Northeast Texas Chapter will have their anniversary celebration that is open to the public on June 11 starting at 10 a.m. at Lone Star Baptist Church, 643 N Wildrose St. Lone Star, TX 75668.

Beaumont may be reached at PO Box 721, Daingerfield, TX 75638, or by email at debb. projectlinus@gmail. com, as well as on Facebook at Project Linus— Northeast Texas.