Project Linus is an international organization whose mission is to provide a sense of security and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. There are hundreds of local chapters across the nation and thousands of volunteers who generously give their time and talents to create handmade blankets, afghans and quilts to donate to children in need.

The local chapter of Project Linus has distributed over 1500 blankets in the last year to local hospitals, NICUs (Neonatal Intensive Care Units), homeless shelters, Edmarc Hospice for Children, the AIDS Taskforce and other organizations who provide services to children. Carpe Diem has been very fortunate to be the beneficiary of 200 of these quilts. For the last several years the local chapter has donated blankets and quilts to our program, which has enabled us to distribute them to children in need throughout the Hampton Roads area.

These items are made by volunteers from local church groups, the Tidewater Quilters Guild, youth from Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and many other volunteers who spend their time making blankets and quilts to give children a sense of hope and let them know that someone cares about them. These blankets provide children who are in crisis a sense of security and gives them something that is all their own.

We have received feedback from some of the recipients of these blankets. The children have told us how much they like to wrap up in the blankets and watch TV, how soft and warm they are, how the colors match their personalities, and how they will take good care of the blankets. Many of the children that we recently distributed quilts to have written thank you letters for these lovingly made gifts. Below is a sample of some of the letters.