Girl Scout Service Project: Project Linus

Several years ago, the co-leader of our Brownie Girl Scout Troop and I were looking for a service project for our 2^nd grade girls. We came across a wonderful organization called Project Linus and we knew right away our scouts would love participating in this crafty, blanket making service project! According to the organization, the mission of Project Linus is simple:

"First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers." Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children."

Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, Project Linus has active chapters in all 50 states, so your Brownie Girl Scout troop is sure to have a chapter close to your location. Project Linus takes its name from the Peanuts comic strip character, Linus, who constantly toted his security blanket. Your girls will probably be familiar with Linus and identify with his blanket toting ways! The creator of Peanuts, Charles Shultz, was moved by the mission to comfort children in need and was happy to have Linus inspire blanketeers for the benefit of children.

Girl Scouts of any age, from Daisies to Brownies, Juniors up through Girl Scout Ambassadors will enjoy making blankets for Project Linus as the blankets can be created with all different skill levels. All your troop needs to do to participate in the Project Linus blanketeer program is to hand-make any type of blanket or afghan. These can be quilts, fleece blankets or infant receiving blankets. Some blanketeers choose to knit or crochet afghans. Young Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts can easily participate in this service project by making tied fleece blankets. Our Junior Girl Scout troop has continued making tied fleece blankets for four years. Older scouts might enjoy learning to quilt and crochet and these new skills could be incorporated into a badge or journey.

There are three requirements for submitting a blanket to Project Linus: the blanket must be new (made with new materials), handmade, and washable. Bright, colorful blankets are loved by children! Our Girl Scouts enjoyed working with different patterns of colorful fleece and were always excited when we brought in new fabric. Whether your blanket is elaborately made or simple tied fleece, a child will be comforted by your Scout's homemade creation.

It is important to note that fleece and other blanket making materials can be expensive to purchase and we did not want to spend all of our Girl Scout troop's funds on fleece. We needed to come up with a plan for funding our Project Linus service project. First, we appealed to our Church parishioners with a notice in our weekly bulletin. We asked simply for funds or actual fleece to be donated to our Girl Scout troop's worthy Project Linus service project. Parents and grandparents of our Brownie Girl Scouts also provided additional funding and fabric. Next, we applied for a grant to the Indianapolis Colts Star program, a program funding children who participate in local service projects. We were granted $250 by the Indianapolis Colts! You can find a variety of grant opportunities for your local area by simply doing a Google search of grants for children. Finally, once you have funding for your blanket making service project, it is important to shop carefully. Check fabric stores scrap bins for pieces large enough to create a blanket and only buy fabric on sale.

One of our Girl Scout troop's favorite activities continues to be blanket making for Project Linus. When our girls were first starting out, my co-leader and I would prepare the fleece fabric for the girls to tie. We always kept around 60 pieces of fabric ready to go at any point in time. In my article on tips for successful Brownie meetings, I mention having a project at the ready for the scouts at the start of every meeting. We always had blankets prepped so that our scouts came into our meeting room and immediately sat down and started to work on a fleece blanket for our Project Linus service project. What makes blanket making perfect for scouts is that they can chat and enjoy each other's company all while completing a worthy service project!

You can find the pattern for our no-sew fleece blanket here on the Project Linus website. You can also find hundreds of other blanket, quilt and afghan patterns on the Project Linus website by clicking here on this link. No matter the age of your Girl Scouts, you will easily find a pattern to match their interests and skill level.

For more information on how to get your Girl Scout troop started, click here to find your local chapter. Your chapter contact can tell you if they are in need of any specific size or type of blanket, but as stated before all handmade blankets that are new and washable will be accepted. Our chapter contact even came to one of our troop meetings and talked to the scouts about Project Linus. If you would like your girls to have a fun patch for their vest, your Project Linus chapter contact can provide those as well.

If you are looking for a rewarding service project for your Girl Scout troop, consider becoming blanketeers and have your scouts lovingly create blankets for Project Linus. A child in need of love and comfort will be so happy you did!

Sources:

Personal Experience

Project Linus