Peterborough’s Union Congregational Church recently completed a community service effort that produced 130 fleece blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit that provides handmade blankets to children facing serious illness, trauma or other hardships.
Arlene MacArthur of Peterborough, who led the project, said she was over the moon as the blankets were packed for distribution after two months of work by parishioners. The total marks a 49-blanket increase over last year’s effort.
Project Linus coordinates volunteers nationwide to create blankets for children up to age 18, with many distributed locally and others sent across the United States.
This is the third year the church has organized the initiative during the Lenten season. The effort concluded with a blessing of the blankets on the Sunday after Easter by the Rev. Dr. Robert Marrone.
MacArthur said the project drew broad participation from the congregation, with members tying fringes on fleece blankets during Sunday services, including the choir, encouraged by Marrone.
In addition to weekly work sessions, the church hosted a potluck, dance party and Project Linus workshop in March, where members and community participants prepared blanket materials, assembled hygiene kits for Church World Service and shared a meal and dancing.
The church followed the milestone with another successful fundraiser, collecting $1,000 at an all-donation spring rummage sale held April 18. Organized by member Kathy Schongar of Peterborough, the proceeds will support the church’s 24-hour emergency food pantry.