Hand knit a blanket or hat and help a child in need

Project Linus is an international organization began in 1998. Karen Loucks was touched by the story of a very young girl who was comforted by her special blanket while enduring years of chemotherapy. Since it's inception, Project Linus has donated 4,463,213 blankets to children in crisis. Their mission is twofold: to provide security blankets for children experiencing trauma and to provide the community with an opportunity to be involved with helping these children at their time of need.

Locally, we have an active chapter of Project Linus. They provide blankets and hats to infants in the NICU, as well as for children and adults undergoing chemotherapy. They serve 16 of our local hospitals. Our local chapter also sends out blankets across the country to TAPS (serving children who have lost a parent in military service) and to Wounded Warriors (service persons recovering from injury).

Alpaca Direct is excited to become involved with this community project. We are a drop-off point for Project Linus, and our staff has begun knitting tiny hats at our Tuesday and Thursday knitting group events in our store!

There are many ways for you to get involved with Project Linus. You can make and donate blankets and hats. Locally, they accept blankets in a variety of sizes - from infant receiving up to full sized blankets for adult patients. They can be sewn, knitted or crocheted. They also are in need of the tiny hats for the premature and newborn infants, as well as adult size caps for chemotherapy patients. You can donate materials or money for materials as well. This is a great way to involve your family in service to those in our own community who are in need. There are specifications for materials and sizes, which you can find in our store. Project Linus does ask that everything is new, handmade and washable.

Why handmade? Over the years, Project Linus has found that a handmade blanket is like a hug. It is personal. It touches these individuals and families when someone they've never met takes the time to create an item for them. We hope you will consider helping out with this worthy cause.

In case you have not heard about us, Alpaca Direct is a direct merchant of high quality yarn, apparel, gifts and socks. We stock a full line of fiber art accessories, including hundreds of needles and thousands of yarns. Our unique selection of products also includes Peruvian alpaca sweaters, hand-loomed lace scarves, performance alpaca socks, cuddly alpaca teddy bears & unique international jewelry.

Our building is handicap accessible, with ample parking and is easy to find. We are located on Hayden Avenue, just two blocks west of Highway 95 at 1016 W Hayden Ave. in Hayden.

Our Alpaca fiber experts are on call 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday. Visit us at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. or online at www.AlpacaDirect.com- your local destination for luxury yarn, apparel & gifts. "Like" us on Facebook and Yelp for exclusive coupons, product spotlights & news!