Project Linus of East Tennessee recently announced it had received a $5,000 Walmart Foundation grant.
Project Linus of East Tennessee provides handmade blankets to more than 2,500 children each year who are in traumatic situations such as in the hospital or shelter, or who have been in an accident or fire, lost a parent who was serving the country, or affected by a mass school or public shooting, among other things.
“Blankets not only provide them warmth, but a blanket ‘hug’ to help them feel more secure during difficult times in the lives,” the press release said. “Besides helping children, the making of the blankets by our volunteers gives as much to them as it does the children.”
The press release said the blankets are often made by seniors who are in assisted living centers or nursing homes, or home bound and/or disabled.
“Project Linus provides them a worthwhile opportunity to continue to give back to their communities in their senior years,” the release said.
Local chapter coordinator Deb Miller said about 95 percent of the local chapter’s blankets are distributed locally and about 5 percent are shipped to other locations to support children in national disasters such as Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina, the Columbine shootings, and events for children of fallen military heroes.
The Walmart Foundation funds will be used to purchase materials for blankets, for the publication of the newsletter, shipping blankets and more. Project Linus of East Tennessee was one of the 140 grant recipients selected from more than 21,000 applications, the press release said.
More information about the Walmart Foundation and the 12 Days of Giving Grants is available at http://news.walmart.com/news-archive/2012/12/14/walmart-gives-120000-to-14-nonprofits-supporting-children-on-the-fifth-day-of-12-days-of-giving-holiday-campaign.
Leave a Reply