As part of an initiative called Project Linus, members of the Strongsville High School National Honor Society are making blankets for children who need them. It is a national project that aims to provide blankets for children in need, or who are ill or traumatized. The Strongsville students donate materials and also help make the blankets for the local chapter.
Laura Williams, NHS co-advisor, said, “Just like the Peanuts character, Linus, who needed something to snuggle onto, these kids need something to hold onto.”
Williams first learned about the project while working at a craft store. She and co-advisor Laurie Switzer decided to allow all 164 NHS members to earn community service credit by making blankets for Project Linus. NHS members are required to fulfill 30 hours of community service in addition to maintaining a 3.5 GPA and participating in extracurricular activities in order to be accepted into the organization.
2012 marks the third year that members of the organization are participating in the project. In the first two years, NHS members made almost 300 blankets to donate. Last year, over 80 students participated in the project.
Switzer said, “We give the blankets to the local chapter of Project Linus and they distribute them to local hospitals and military families.”
Kelly Largent, a junior at Strongsville High, said, “I personally love little kids and I know it will brighten their day. I think it’s important to set an example for our generation. I want to show we’re doing something good for our community.”
