25 Days Of Volunteering—Day 18: Create Or Donate Blankets For Children In Need With Project Linus

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — 'Tis the season for giving back to your community. There are a number of ways that you and your family can help others through the holidays.

Every day through Christmas, Patch will be highlighting a way you can provide compassion and resources to those in need.

Volunteer New York! makes it easy to find ways to help — through donations, supporting nonprofits and even volunteering from home.

Today's opportunity is volunteering to create or donate blankets for children in need with Westchester-Rockland Project Linus.

Westchester-Rockland Project Linus welcomes the donation of new, handmade, machine-washable blankets to be given to children who need a little comfort in Westchester and Rockland Counties. Blankets will receive a Project Linus label and are brought to various agencies and programs that are helping children deal with illness, mental health issues, and/or stresses that arise from homelessness, food insecurity, or challenges related to COVID-19.

Blankets can be knit, crocheted, or sewn.

This is a perfect activity for individuals, families, or as a team-building program for businesses, churches/temples, and community groups such as Scouts, Lions, or veterans.

To volunteer:

1. Express interest here to record this opportunity in your Volunteer New York! profile and to alert the Volunteer Coordinator of your interest
2. Make your blankets!
   1. For popular pattern ideas, visit this “Patterns” page
   2. For retailers of fabrics, visit this “Friends” page. Many of these businesses offer special discounts (in addition to donating a percentage of these sales) to friends of Project Linus
3. After you express interest below, the Volunteer Coordinator will contact you with instructions for donating or dropping off your blankets at one of the drop-off locations in Rockland, Upper Westchester, New Rochelle, or a participating fabric store

Check out all the volunteer opportunities around the Hudson Valley by visiting the Holiday Volunteering web page.