Blanket, luggage projects a perfect fit
Romaker, Janet. Toledo Blade, May 15, 2007, pg. B1.
An offhand remark by a local art teacher has created a warm-and-fuzzy connection between homemade blankets and hand-painted suitcases as part of a kids-helping-kids outreach effort.Recently in her classroom at Sylvania's Timberstone Junior High School, Jeanne Guerin was talking about a former student who lives in Charlotte.
Ms. Guerin, founder of Love Luggage, an award-winning program that donates decorated suitcases to needy children, said the student had organized a Charlotte Love Luggage project and had linked it with Project Linus, a national program that provides handmade blankets to needy children.
Jessica Liber, a University of Toledo student who has been spending time at Timberstone as part of her college studies, was listening to Ms. Guerin's comments about the two projects. It was one of those "meant-to-be" moments - Miss Liber's mother, Caryl Liber, is director of the Toledo-Lucas County chapter of Project Linus.
Telephone calls were made; "Wow, can you believe the coincidence?" comments were exchanged, and the two projects serving the Toledo area connected almost immediately.
"It just fits. It makes sense to do this," said Mrs. Liber in the Timberstone art room, where students paint hard-sided suitcases as part of the Love Luggage project.
Now, when the luggage is donated to agencies in northwest Ohio, handmade blankets from Project Linus will be tucked inside each one.
Toys, toiletries, and other donated items are put into the suitcases as well.
The luggage often replaces a plastic trash bag or a brown paper bag, which is all many of the children have to carry their few belongings.
Mrs. Liber, who has been a "foster mom," remembers the day when a foster child arrived at her front door carrying clothing and other personal items in a garbage bag.
Agencies typically distribute the suitcases to foster children, said Ms. Guerin, who noted that Love Luggage is active in 20 states and on three continents.
Local donations include 30 suitcases - with Project Linus blankets inside - to Hancock County Children Services, and several will be donated this week to Lucas County Children Services.
Julie Malkin, spokesman for Lucas County Children Services, said, "we really appreciate their generosity."
Since the Toledo-Lucas County chapter of Project Linus formed in November, 2005, it has donated 750 blankets to needy children. A volunteer, nonprofit organization, Project Linus' mission is to provide comfort to children who are seriously ill or otherwise in need through gifts of new, handmade blankets. The project also provides a rewarding service opportunity for those people who want to get involved to help children.
"Blanketeers" for Project Linus include fifth-grade students at Sylvania's Maplewood Elementary School.
With neat, tiny stitches and a creative flair, students piece together quilt squares.
Then, McCord Junior High School students sew the colorful squares into blankets of kindness.
"It's all about kids helping kids," said Mrs. Liber, who inspired students to get involved after she spoke to them about foster children in October. In the coming weeks, dozens of finished blankets will be presented to her by Sylvania students for distribution.
"Blankets make kids feel comfortable when they go into foster homes," said fifth-grade student Madeeha Lughmani. "I think it is really nice because we can do something for those in need."
