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January 2026

Everybody Needs a Blankie

By Bridget Brewster
Posted: 03/26/2026

We all probably remember (maybe even identify with) Linus, the Peanuts character who always had his blanket with him. Based on that endearing character, a woman in Colorado began a personal project of making blankets for children at a local cancer center. That was in 1995. Since then, more than 10,359,234 blankets have been distributed to people throughout the United States. Their mission, as stated on their website, is two-fold: 1) provide a sense of love, 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 volunteers and 2) to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups.

I’m happy to share with you that we have a Villager, Valli Cowan, who has been involved with Project Linus for more than 25 years! For the past year, she has supported the Chapter that serves Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. Valli said, “When we received a request from LA City Schools to supply 300 blankets for graduating high school seniors experiencing homelessness, I thought maybe some Villagers would like to help, so I arranged a morning of blanket making.” And she was right.

Eight Villagers joined Valli for a really fun couple of hours to help with this meaningful project. Some of us had absolutely no experience, but it didn’t matter at all. Valli gave us a very quick tutorial, and we were truly excited to choose a pre-cut fleece blanket and begin the process of measuring, cutting and tying. Some worked as teams, others individually, but all enjoyed the process. Toni Johnson shared a sentiment that was expressed by everyone, “What a nice opportunity to be doing something nice for others, especially kids who are without homes.”

While we initially looked at the stack of 10 blankets and were a bit daunted, by the time we finished the last knot in the fifth blanket, we asked if Valli would consider another “blanketeering” experience next month. We have more blankets to finish, so Villagers are invited to register now for the April 16 opportunity to join with others to accomplish a simple act of helping just a little bit to make the world a better place… at least for a few young people.  

Without a doubt we were all happy to be able to make a difference in the lives of a few high school students who have reached the significant milestone of graduation. It’s our sincere hope that this simple gesture will bring a smile as well as warmth and comfort as they navigate very challenging circumstances every single day. In the words of Linus, "This blanket is a necessity. It keeps me from cracking up."