Welcome to the Project Linus Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA Chapter!

We welcome you and invite your support of children in need of a hug with the gift of a new, handmade quilt, afghan, or fleece blanket. Take a few minutes to read more about our Chapter, how you might want to participate, and contact us by using the email address below if you have any questions, suggestions or ideas. And of course, your deductible financial support is gratefully accepted – just use the Donate button on any page.

Project Linus & Crestline Elementary

When Crestline Elementary School was destroyed in February, Project Linus stepped up with a blanket for each of the 500+ children, teachers, staff and principal. Between Friday when they left and Monday morning, everything Crestline people had and collected was gone. A terrible sense of loss was evident in every face.

The picture here shows Su Scott, Jodene Cook, Kirsten Bledsoe (school counselor) making a delivery to one of the five schools where classrooms have been placed temporarily Click this link to see the KOIN TV report on our blanket deliveries and see the joy in the children’s faces.

Project Linus – 13 Years in Portland/Vancouver & 35,000 Blankets

The Portland/Vancouver Chapter, established July, 2001 by Marla Zupancic, immediately attracted other enthusiastic volunteers to form an active and vibrant group of women and men who enjoy making blankets and who care deeply about children who are facing difficult situations. Marla passed the reigns to Jodene Cook who took over as coordinator in 2008.

The Project Linus concept began Christmas Eve 1995, with an article in Parade Magazine entitled, “Joy to the World.” Part of the article featured a petite, downy haired child. She had been going though intensive chemotherapy. Her “security blanket” had helped her get through the difficult treatments. Inspired, Karen Loucks took the idea and decided to provide homemade security blankets to Denver’s Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Center. Project Linus was born!

Project Linus – the perfect name – based on the adorable security blanket-toting character from the Peanuts comic strip. Creator Charles Schulz was aware of our efforts and was delighted to have Linus inspire blanket makers (blanketeers) to help comfort children in need.

The Mission

Our chapter is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization and shares the same two-fold mission as all other Project Linus chapters of the National Organization – through service in our community, provide comfort to children:

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.

Contact Jodene Cook, the Portland/Vancouver Chapter Coordinator, for information about finding your place in this amazing mission, jcooklinus@q.com.