Marden’s delivers over 100 handmade quilts to TAMC
PRESQUE ISLE — Pediatric patients who are admitted to TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital will find greater comfort in their stay thanks to the generosity of area volunteer quilters and a local retailer.
Contributed photo
STAFF MEMBERS from the Presque Isle Marden’s store delivered 103 handmade quilts to the women and children’s unit at TAMC Jan. 8. The blankets will be given to infants and pediatric inpatients at the Presque Isle hospital. Pictured are, from left: Doug Clifford, Presque Isle Marden’s store manager; Debbie Cyr, fabric department supervisor; Pam Lilley, RN, manager of TAMC’s women and children’s unit; Leslie Wheaton, RN, nurse; Dr. Rachel Swartz; Christine Turner, RN, nurse; Brittany Caron, CNA; and Virginia Joles, TAMC philanthropy lead.
Staff members from the Presque Isle Marden’s store delivered 103 handmade quilts to the women and children’s unit at TAMC Jan. 8. The blankets — made and donated by local quilters, including team members working in the fabric department at the local Marden’s — will be given to infants and pediatric inpatients at the Presque Isle hospital.
The donation is part of Project Linus, a national campaign that collects homemade blankets that are given to severely ill children from infancy to age 18. The organization has a strong base of support in Maine, and the central Aroostook chapter is one of seven in the state. There are more than 400 Project Linus chapters nationally. More than 120 crafters have participated in the project.
“Marden’s has been involved with Project Linus for a number of years. It’s a cause we feel is very important,” said Doug Clifford, Presque Isle Marden’s store manager. “We are passionate about helping area children have the most comfortable hospital stay possible. The emotion of paying it forward begins with the quilter. Nearly 120 crafters in northern Maine create blankets and bring them to us throughout the year. We bring them to local hospitals, nurses enthusiastically present them to patients, and, in some cases, the patients graciously make a blanket to give back to Project Linus for the warmth and comfort of others.”
Marden’s Fabric Supervisor Debbie Cyr loves Project Linus. “It helps others and the quilters enjoy giving,” she said. “One Washburn quilter donated 50 quilts last year and another quilter created as many as 12 each month. We celebrate their generosity at Marden’s on Blanket Day in September by providing snacks, drawings, and fabric incentives for their labors of love. It is a wonderful community project that benefits local families.”
The goal of Project Linus is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gift of new handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly made by the volunteer “blanketeers.”
Each year Marden’s statewide collects quilts, blankets, and donations and distributes them to hospitals and other organizations that help care for ill children throughout Maine. Several thousand blankets have been given since Marden’s initiated the effort over a decade ago.
One of those blankets was given to newborn Keith Adam Bloom of Presque Isle, born recently at TAMC.
“Being able to give our inpatients a blanket, whether a newborn or young person, provides a sense of comfort and security that they can keep with them throughout their stay and beyond,” said Pam Lilley, TAMC’s women and children’s health unit manager. “We enjoy passing on the blankets. It brings a smile to their faces during a tough time in their lives or when wrapping a precious new delivery of life.”
To find out more information about Project Linus donations, local chapters, or to connect with other “blanketeers,” visit www.projectlinus.org.
