Featured in the MACUCC Jan 9th Spotlight Email!
Good Grief, Linus!
By Ms. Patricia Bukoski and Rev. Mark Seifried
The project started as a way for Carole
Murray to keep herself busy and to ease the pain of
grief. She made a few blankets in those first few months following her son’s
death. Then she heard about
Project Linus, a nationwide non-profit organization
that provides blankets of comfort for children in various stages of need – from
neo-natal intensive care to day surgery, from arduous cancer battles to respite
from life on the streets in homeless shelters. Carole asked her friends from
First Congregational Church, UCC in Auburn and other churches in the area if
they would like to use some of their spare time to give hope and healing to
children in need throughout Central Massachusetts.
Fast
forward eleven years and the Worcester Area Chapter of Project Linus, whose
headquarters are at First Congregational Church, UCC in Auburn, has made more
than 21,500 blankets with the help of hundreds of volunteers. Blankets have
been sewn, knitted and crocheted. They are detailed in every conceivable way.
Their label identifies them as Project Linus Blankets.
The security
these blankets give and the impact they have made on the lives of countless
children throughout the United States first began as an act of kindness by the
founder of Project Linus, Karen Loucks. On Christmas Eve, in 1995, an article
titled “Joy to the World” appeared in Parade Magazine. It was written by
Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist Eddie Adams. Part of the article
featured a petite, downy haired child. She had been going through intensive
chemotherapy and stated that her security blanket helped her get through the
treatments. After reading the article, Karen Loucks decided to provide
homemade blankets to Denver's Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center. Project
Linus became a reality. Today there are nine chapters around Massachusetts and
four hundred nationwide.
Carole and the gang at First Congregational in Auburn have done a great job evangelizing. They now have satellite units throughout the region – in Senior Centers and retirement communities, in other churches, schools; some scout troops are even involved. The finished blankets are collected and brought to the church for labeling and distribution. Although there are probably more than 100 volunteers presently making blankets, a dozen or so women gather each Tuesday at First Congregational Church in Auburn to bless them before adoption by a deserving child.
Check
out what one mother recently wrote to Carole: “I wanted to take a moment to
thank Project Linus. My 5-year-old son was born with a cleft palate and has had
many operations throughout his young life. Now at 5-years-old he was in again
and this time very anxious, upset and scared – the older he gets the more he
understands and the worse it gets. [As he was checked in for a recent surgery],
huge tears streamed down his cheeks. Our nurse presented him with a blanket
that was donated by you. It was only day surgery and we brought him home. I
watched him rest on the couch with his new blanket. He now is in bed and is
very attached to his blanket – wrapped securely around him. This blanket was
the only bright spot in his day and the only thing he asked was, ‘Somebody made
this blanket for me? Why?’ My answer was simple, ‘Because someone thought you
were special.’ As a mother, all I can say is ‘THANK YOU.’ I appreciate your
efforts to reach out to these children that have been through so much! To see
his eyes brighten up is more than I can ask for.”
The wonderful thing about Project Linus at First Congregational Church is that most of the material is donated by a woman who makes hospital uniforms in the area and heard about this ministry …although several of the volunteers admitted to regular shopping binges for material “when fabric stores are practically giving the stuff away and we can’t pass it up.” Since all the blanket recipients are in the area, local volunteers load them into their vehicles and deliver them to offices, homes, hospitals, etc The congregation has allocated a room in the back of the church which has its own entrance, ample storage, and a kitchenette. (What kind of ministry would it be without coffee and snacks?)
When asked why they put so much effort into this ministry, volunteers had many reasons. Quite a few are widowed and the handiwork helps them pray and work through their grief in a supportive and loving environment. One woman said she just likes to keep busy. Most shared that they love to know that their craft brings comfort and healing to children and families in desperate times. And another said, “As long as my hands can move and my eyes can see, I’ll put them to work for the Lord.” They all seem to agree that it’s as good for the volunteers as it is for the babies and children in need. These blankets are sewn and given with unconditional love, talent, dedication and resourcefulness – all gifts of the Holy Spirit that bring good news to God’s people.
Last Edited 04/03/2010