Jo Coon, left, and Jean Witkowski arrange quilts for display at Firelands Presbyterian Church on June 1. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Back in 2003, Maxine Wilson was wintering in Fort Myers when she heard about Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that donates handmade blankets to children in hospitals, hospices and shelters as a tangible gift of warm comfort. She brought the idea home with her and shared it with Rev. Bob Butcher, who was the pastor of Firelands Presbyterian Church in Port Clinton.

“When I heard about Project Linus, I thought, ‘I could probably do that,’” Wilson said. “Bob Butcher encouraged us to go ahead with it.”

Now, 20 years later, the Port Clinton chapter of Project Linus has sewn and donated over 2,500 quilts and blankets to Akron Children’s Hospital.

The Port Clinton Chapter of Project Linus is celebrating its 20th year of creating handmade blankets for children. Shown here are, from left, Mary Caracci, Kay McIntosh, Maxine Wilson, Jean Witkowski and Jo Coon. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We started with five women in 2004, and, that first year, we made 29 quilts. We were so excited,” Wilson said. “Now, we make over 100 every year.”

On Saturday, June 1, members gathered at Firelands Presbyterian Church to display on pews, tables and walls the 117 quilts they made in 2023. On Sunday, parishioners walked in to find their church literally blanketed with love. The church celebrated the chapter’s 20th anniversary during the worship service, and Rev. Bobbie Bella led a prayer of blessing over the quilts.

Dr. Paul and Christine Fleisnner from Akron Children’s Hospital attended the service to formally accept the quilts. Christine is the hospital’s quilt coordinator.

“Christine goes through every quilt the hospital receives, looking for missed pins and making sure they are clean. She has checked over 80,000 blankets,” Wilson said. “We’ve been working with her for the entire 20 years. She’s been our pal for all these years.”

Mary Caracci hangs a quilt in Firelands Presbyterian Church. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Project Linus is a national organization with a mission of “providing security through blankets.” To date, the organization has donated more than 9.3 million handmade blankets to children across the nation. More information on Project Linus can be found at www.projectlinus.org.

The Port Clinton chapter members meet twice a month at Wilson’s home to work on the quilts.

“Some will bring sewing machines. Some will do hand sewing, and others will cut fabric,” Wilson said.

Project Linus provides free, handmade blankets and quilts to children in hospitals, hospices and shelters. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Firelands Presbyterian Church purchases the batting for the quilts, and a small portion of the material is funded by community donations, but most of the material is purchased and donated by the individual members. The members give their time, their skills, their money and their hearts to create quilts that comfort children on their most difficult days.

“It’s just the love these women have, even though they’ll never see the children who receive the quilts,” Wilson said. “It’s a labor of love, knowing the children will have a hug and comfort.”

Tax-deductible contributions to the Port Clinton chapter of Project Linus can be made through Firelands Presbyterian Church. For more information on the chapter, call Maxine Wilson at 419-265-2835.