For millions, the name Linus conjures up images of a “Peanuts” cartoon character tightly holding a blanket for comfort.

This connection has led to a group in Wilton toiling away twice a month to provide comfort blankets that can be offered to others. Project Linus works to get blankets trimmed with crocheted borders to those in need of the warmth and security that Charles Schultz’s creation Linus van Pelt sought in the comic strip. 

“The blankets go to EMS providers, police departments, pediatric wards, anywhere that there’s been trauma,” Stephanie Ouellette said Tuesday morning.

At the Second Congregational Church in Wilton, Cindy Broderick and Ouellette are on the mission committee, and twice a month they shepherd crocheters to put the finishing touches on blankets. A dozen women were touching up fleece with their yarn Tuesday morning.

Project Linus began in 1997, when the reader of a story about a young cancer patient decided to provide blankets for the Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Center in Denver.

Locally, the Southwest New Hampshire chapter of the organization provides support to those who hands do the labor and picks up all completed blankets at month’s end. Blankets are washed, labeled and donated by the organization as needed. For information, send emails to Robyn Manley at robynprojectlinus@gmail.com.

“We delivered 692 blankets in January,” stated the chapter’s recent newsletter, adding that mittens, scarves and crocheted bags were also shared. Blankets went to the Monadnock Community Hospital Birthing Suite, SHARE and an immigrant family locally, and also found their way to Cheshire Medical Center, Elliot Hospital and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua.

“I saw an ad for the project in a vintage shop years back,” said Ouellette when asked how she became involved in the program. She stressed that while they meet at the church, not everybody is a member there, or from Wilton.

“We’ve got people from Amherst, Francestown, Lyndeborough, even Rochester,” said Ouellette, explaining that one group member moved to the Seacoast-area town, but returns on occasion to take up her needles. 

The blankets are made of Blizzard Fleece, and the crocheted touches the group puts on them are with acrylic wool. Ouellette said that this fabric has the fewest allergens in it.

“Those doing the handiwork purchase the materials themselves,” said Manley, chapter coordinator for the Southwest New Hampshire region.

Joann Fabrics will donate materials on occasion, and other donations are welcome. Other groups that contribute blankets locally include the Union Congregational Church in Peterborough and the Lions clubs in that town as well as in Antrim and Bennington.

“We just heard from the Mason Public Library, and they’re going to organize a project for us this month,” said Manley. 

There are three sizes of blankets, said Ouellette -- infant, pre-teen, and teen, the last one being two yards long, all for recipients under 18 years old. Ouellette noted one exception to that policy that she knows of within the nationwide organization. 

“After the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, blankets were given to everyone in the school, teachers and staff included,” she said.

Beth Dougherty of Wilton had never crocheted before coming to the group, and pointed to Annie Jasper, also of Wilton, as her teacher of the craft. Jasper said that the endeavor was “a ministry for us.” 

Loretta April of Wilton was a relative newcomer to the group, and said that it was a great way to spend a morning after a career as a commercial credit manager. 

Ouellete said that the group varies in size, as 20 people were at work around the tables at their previous meeting, adding that some take the fabric home and work at it between their meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 10 a.m. 

Jasper offered a comment as she put a completed blanket on another table.

“There’s a bit of warmth and love in every stitch,” she said.