Named after the blanket-toting character in Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strip, the mission 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 gifts of new, homemade, washable blankets and afghans, lovingly crafted by volunteer blanketeers.

Our all-volunteer organization began in December of 1995 by Karen Loucks in Parker, Colorado. Karen had read an article in Parade Magazine about a little girl who was comforted by a blanket through chemotherapy treatments. Having recently learned to crochet, Karen began supplying blankets to the Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center. As she told her friends about her self-appointed task, they offered to help. As a result, Project Linus has become an international organization, with chapters and affiliate chapters providing blankets to children in need, worldwide.

As of October 2001, the Monterey County has its own Project Linus Chapter started by Noni McVey. Noni visited the Project Linus website after September 11, 2001. She noted that they were collecting blankets for the children affected by the recent tragedy. Noni contacted Beverly Fabrics in Seaside and Salinas, Hand Maden in Pacific Grove, JoAnn Fabrics in Salinas and Monarch Knitting in Pacific Grove asking if they would give a discount to those making a blanket for Project Linus. Every store was more than happy to help out. As she was not yet a coordinator for Project Linus, she put together a flyer with a simple pattern on the back for a tied quilt and called it "Sew for America's Children." Realizing there are children in need in her community, Noni decided to be a local coordinator for Project Linus.

Project Linus Monterey Bay Chapter was featured in Pulse Magazine, a publication by the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. To read the article, click here.