Quilters enjoy making quilts for others. This page has information about several worthwhile projects. If you know of other projects taking place in Maine or have photos of projects your chapter is working on, please e-mail the information to PTQG Webmaster.
Project Linus
Providing security through handmade blankets
Project Linus has over 400 Chapters with more than 2,000,000 blankets delivered worldwide. Communities are banding together to provide security through blankets to seriously ill or traumatized children. Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization. Project Linus accepts all styles of blankets – quilted, tied, knitted, crocheted, fleece, etc. They must be new, handmade and washable. Elaborate or simple, they are all beautiful to a child. All sizes of blankets are accepted. They go to children infants through teens. Local chapters may have size requirements depending on the facilities to which they donate. Contact your local coordinator for more information.
How Can You Help?
- Make a blanket and donate it to your local chapter. They will take it to a local facility where it will be given to a deserving child, permanently.
- Get your community involved.
Contacts:
Androscoggin County
Sharon, Chapter Coordinator
513-587-9263
Cumberland/York Counties
Pam, Chapter Coordinator
973-714-9027
Penobscot, Piscataquis, Kennebec & Hancock Counties
Cynthia, Chapter Coordinator
207-884-8898
Donna, Piscataquis Assistant
207-564-3029
Isabelle, Kennebec Assistant
207-200-3176
Lynn, Hancock Assistant
207-812-8902
For more information, visit www.projectlinus.org or e-mail Cynthia.
Newborns in Need
Serving the needs of newborn babies.
Newborns in Need, Inc. (NIN) is a 501(c)3 charity organized to take care of sick and needy babies and their families; and in cases of crisis, to help where help is needed. Newborns in Need, Inc. is founded upon Christian principles and provides essential items without charge to those in need. We have been serving God’s tiniest children since 1992. In 2007, we donated out 557,970 items! A great big thank you to all of our volunteers, donors, and sponsors.
When a child is born to a needy family, and it comes time to leave the hospital, many times that tiny baby may be wearing just a disposable diaper. Sometimes-too many times-there’s not even a receiving blanket waiting for them at home if they even have a home to go to. In winter, that means there is a good chance the baby will be back in the hospital with pneumonia, or worse, die from the cold. Who can help? In many cases, if we don’t help, no one will. These children can’t help themselves. This is an ongoing need. Your donations of time, sewing notions, and money to help alleviate the suffering of tiny helpless babies is greatly needed and appreciated.
How can you help? Sew, crochet, knit or donate baby items to the chapter nearest you. Donate sewing notions, fabric, and patterns to be used for the benefit of the sick and needy premature and newborn babies. Supplies are greatly appreciated. Make a baby quilt or two, collect sewing supplies and send them, or gather used toys and clothing and ship them. Use your knitting, tatting, and crocheting talents to make much needed baby clothing and bedding. Some patterns are available on our web site.
Local Chapter:
Ann Palmer, President
232 E. Ridge Road
Skowhegan, ME 04976
207-474-5221
http://www.newbornsinneed.org/somerset
Quilts of Valor
The mission of the Quilts of Valor ® Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. As a group we make quilts to send to service men, both active and retired, who have been “touched by war”.
If anyone in Maine would like information of this very worthwhile cause, they may contact:
Maine State Coordinator for Quilts of Valor: Donna Brookings at the following: donna.brookings@qovf.org, 207-523-9322 or by mail at 22 Maple Drive Gorham, ME 04038, or visit the national website at QOVF.org.
Wrap-A-Smile
Wrap-A-Smile was started in 2001 by Terry Hodskins of Wells Rotary Club, Wells Maine and member of the Evergreen Quilt Guild.
The project has distributed over 24,500 quilts worldwide. A visual would be the quilts cover 6 football fields. This Wells Rotary project has received quilts from all 50 States, Canada, Australia, Germany and Great Britain. First quilts went to Cumana Valenzuela 2002. Quilts are now going to 48 rotating sites worldwide with Rotaplast Missions as well as Faces of Hope and 1000 Smiles. Some of the countries include: China, Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Vietnam, and Mexico. When we have had an overabundance of Rotaplast cannot accept any more for a while, we have sent quilts to wheelchair victims in Africa, Hospitals in Nigeria and Uganda as well as Ronald McDonald Houses. This is all done through local Rotary Clubs in those areas. All quilts are child size, child friendly 100% cotton with very little white, machine quilted or hand tied as they may receive harsh treatment.
Wrap-A-Smile has appeared in three national magazines as well as one book. Each quilt has a special Wrap-A-Smile label stitched on the back of the quilt. This includes the Rotary wheel, known worldwide, two interlinking hearts. There is a contact in CA who accepts quilts as well and she personally delivers them to Rotaplast Headquarters in San Francisco. Contact Dr. Ann Demeranville at quilts7780.gmail.com. Wrapasmilequilts.blogspot.com