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HOME > ABOUT > PRESS > A WARM, COMFORTING GIFT
Article published - August 24, 2008
Credit: PRESS DEMOCRAT
A warm, comforting gift
By Rayne Wolfe
Sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough get giving. At least that's how it worked for Jenny Giacomini of Petaluma, founder of the Sonoma County chapter of the national nonprofit Linus Project.
Started in Colorado in 1995, the Linus Project puts hand-made blankets in the hands and laps of ill children or children in need of comforting.
"You know, timing is everything. Back in 2003, my father had died. I was a manager at a bank. It was a very stressful time for me," Giacomini said.
While scanning a magazine, she came across an article about the Linus Project and decided to find the local chapter. She had long loved to knit and crochet, so she figured she could knock out a few baby blankets.
"Only there wasn't one. I later learned our county had a chapter in the past," she said. Even though she had never done anything like it before, she decided to open a chapter.
More than 400 chapters nationwide have delivered more than 2.3 million blankets to hospitals and hospices and other places where children need the thing that Linus of the "Peanuts" cartoon strip never let go of.
The blankets come in all sizes, colors and motifs. They can be knit, crocheted, sewn or made of fleece. About 50 to 60 regular contributors allow the Sonoma County chapter to provide warm bundles made with love year round.
One recent contribution of 20 blankets went to the Petaluma Health Center.
"We're grateful to Project Linus for providing these blankets to our newborn patients and their families," said CEO Kathie Powell. "What a loving way to begin a new life."
The North Bay chapter has given away nearly 4,000 blankets since 2003 to more than 40 organizations in Sonoma and Marin counties.
Recipients include: Kaiser in Petaluma; CARE in Santa Rosa; Kathy's Camp, a children's cancer camp; the Sonoma Kinship Family Center; COTS; and children going into foster care.
At the Lodge at Paulin Creek, a senior residential facility in Santa Rosa, an activity group dubbed The Nit-Wits gather each week to craft more blankets to give away. Not only do the residents enjoy the social aspect of group handicrafts, they take comfort in knowing their work will go to children. Jenny Giacomini uses cash donations to purchase yarn and supplies to keep everyone at Paulin Creek busy.
"This is something that has been going on for years here and the people who do it really enjoy it," said Elva Zimmerman, who assists with activity planning at the independent living community.
The Linus Project has taken Giacomini to some unexpected places. From time to time she has visited funeral homes to leave donations for the children of military personnel killed overseas.
"I go before the funeral so that I'm not intruding or inserting myself in any way. I leave the blanket with an explainer tag with the funeral director," Giacomini said. She recently received a thank you note from a family member of a fallen soldier who appreciated the gesture.
The Linus Project also responds to natural disasters. The local chapter shipped containers of blankets following Hurricane Katrina.
The value of a small blanket for sleeping, napping and cuddling never fades in the mind of Giacomini. Images of her own son -- now a grown man -- with his "blankie" springs to mind as she devotes time and energy to the Linus Project.
"My son had a handmade blanket that got smaller and smaller. It got down to where it was just a little square and eventually he was big enough to let that go. But for a long time, it was the most important thing in his life," she said.
To volunteer or arrange for a donation to the Linus Project's Sonoma County chapter, e-mail Jenny Giacomini at jgiamon@comcast.net or visit www.orgsites.com/ca/linus.
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