Project Linus is a national non-profit organization named after the “Peanuts” character who always carried around a security blanket. On Feb. 21 the local chapter put on “Make a Blanket Day” at the East Hills Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Project Linus provides homemade blankets for children in traumatic situations. The organization first started on Christmas Eve in 1995 and has been present in Kern County since 2006.

Kern County Chapter Coordinator Michele Willis went online and started a local chapter after Hurricane Katrina. She said that after Katrina, she wanted to do something locally for people here. ?

Project Linus makes and distributes blankets for children ages newborn to 18. The blankets are distributed locally to places like Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Jamison Center, Veteran Affairs Family Assistance Program and several hospitals.

From Girl Scouts to seniors in high school looking for community service hours to veteran blanketeers, the “Make a Blanket Day” event had volunteers of various ages, experience and skill levels, hoping to reach Willis’ goal of 150 blankets made. With that goal in mind, there were many projects volunteers could work on. ?

“If they have their own project to work on, they can bring that,” Willis said. “If not, we have lots of projects to work on here like fabric dyeing, quilt squares, knitting, crocheting, fleece blankets and tying blankets.” ?

Most attendees said their favorite part of Project Linus is the friendship and helping others. But Willis found another perk. ?

“My favorite part is getting to meet people . and getting to see all the cute fabric!” Willis said as she showed off a recently donated “Peanuts” fabric.

Cathy Colbert, a teacher at Arvin High School, has been with the local chapter of Project Linus since its start.

She led the crocheting group at the event and referred to herself as the “lone crocheter in a field of quilters.”

“I’ve been crocheting since I was 7 or 8,” Colbert said. “I actually failed home ec. because I would not knit a pair of slippers. I got back into it in college. It made for inexpensive gifts. I’d knit in class, and I dropped a needle once and got caught. I told my teacher I was making gloves and asked him what color he wanted.”

Colbert said her friends eventually had too many afghans because of her. When she continued to make more and her friends had their share of blankets, Project Linus was a solution.

“I’m a compulsive crocheter. If there was a Compulsive Crocheters of California, I’d join,” Colbert said. “I had to have somewhere for the afghans to go.”

Elizabeth Castillo, a 17-year-old Bakersfield High School student, attended the event for the first time. She worked on tying blankets so the fabric doesn’t bunch up. When asked of her experience, she said she had none.

“When I called [to inquire about the event], I thought I’d be intimidated, but after I called and was told about it, I thought I’d be OK,” Castillo said. “What I hope to get out of this is knowing I did something good. Tragic things happen, and it’s good if there’s literally a comfort blanket there for them.”

Winona Dowell has been with Project Linus for about a year and also worked on tying blankets. She said she made a few blankets in the 1970s, but started again more recently.

“You just learn it by doing it, and you can make them any way you want,” Dowell said. “Some of the ladies here are really talented. I just make simple ones.”

The store Kohl’s was also present at the event as part of Kohl’s Cares for Kids, with employees working on fleece blankets.

“We were here last year. We do it every year,” said Kohl’s employee Katrina Flores. “[Project Linus] gets a donation from Kohl’s if five of our employees show up.”

Sherrie Lerma, also a Kohl’s employee, said she usually brings her kids with her to the event but was unable to this time.

“I like coming because kids can get involved too,” Lerma said.

“It gives them a sense of giving instead of ‘Gimme, gimme!'” Flores added.

Project Linus meets monthly. For more information, visit www.orgsites.com/ca/bakersfieldkerncounty.