Prospecitve Students and Blankets

PLRH Family Weekend: Part I

The weather this past weekend was a little closer to the seasonal norm. Saturday we were able to wear short sleeves and Sunday we donned shorts and hats. But those of you with snow piled up at the end of your driveways don’t want to hear about 70-degree-weather with bright blue skies.

My brother from New Jersey was in town on business again but this time brought my nephew along and stayed the weekend. CT (my nephew) is a junior in high school and considering going to college in Florida. Saturday morning my brother, nephew, husband, and eldest son all went to USF for the walking tour. Mr. A’s first choice is still the Naval Academy but USF is one of his runner-ups since it’s an in-state school, has an excellent Engineering school, and has Navy ROTC.

While those four were learning about campus life, G-Man, my parents and I went to Project Linus drop off day.

My mother makes quilts all throughout the year for various reasons. I would estimate that 75% of her quilts go to charity. Project Linus is one of those charities that receives my mother’s quilts. Each local chapter of Project Linus distributes the donated blankets, afghans, and quilts to local organizations that provide services to children in need.

This year has been an amazing year. Project Linus is a registered charity with Disney’s Give a Day, Get a Day volunteer program. People came from everywhere donating handmade “woobies.” Saturday it was our job to help process all of the donations. Each blanket needed to be labeled with a Project Linus label, sorted by size, and packaged up.

We had 11 people on sewing machines attaching labels and just as many folks trimming threads, folding, counting, and packing. G-Man sewed labels with gusto as he jammed to his iPod. My mom trimmed threads. My dad folded and counted. There was a young man sewing away in order to earn his Eagle Scout rank. A red-headed girl of about 11 learned how to use a sewing machine for the first time and decided she really liked it. I sat next to an 80-something-year-old lady who kept pace with the rest of us.



It was a whirlwind morning and I was sore since I haven’t been behind a sewing machine in several months. But it was sew worth it (pun intended). My best guess is that in the three hours we were there we must have processed 600 blankets.

Later that afternoon we all regrouped at my parents' house to celebrate my father's birthday. In case anyone is counting, my mom and I were outnumbered 6 to 2. Once she and I realized this, we went out to buy yarn and left the guys to their male bonding activities.

Mr. A, CT, and G-Man aka Da Punks

UPDATE: We processed 836 blankets on Saturday for Project Linus!