Did you feel the fuzz?

You would have if you had been with the De Anza Lions the evening of March 27^th. More than twenty-five Lions, Leos, friends and family members met that night at Cupertino’s Odd Fellows Lodge for our Club’s 4^th Blanketeering Party.

That warm and fuzzy feeling permeated the room as we were coached on how to convert a piece of fleece into a soft and cozy blanket that will be given to a child in need. As Blanketeers arrived, they selected their fleece, grabbed a table and spread out; with scissors in hand, all were ready to go. After some initial instruction—how to cut off the salvage and measure out the tassels for cutting and tying—the gang got started. Chitter-chatter, giggle-giggle, snip-snip-snip. Then, out of the din, rose an unmistakable sound, “Hee-onk, hee-onk!” It was not-so-little-anymore Eli squeezing a horn announcing the completion of the first blanket!! After that, let the wild ruckus start! As blankets were finished off, Eli was called to each table to announce the triumph. With feelings of great accomplishment, Eli and newest member-in-training Anjali were called to duty and (on top of blowing the horn!) asked to carry completed blankets to the table where Sharon Lee, Project Linus’ local Chapter Chair, was sewing on the final touch—a tag stating the blanket was made by Project Linus and the De Anza Lions.

In the midst of the work party, we listened and watched as Sharon gave a presentation describing Project Linus’ humble beginnings and telling the heartwarming story of how it grew to be the worldwide maker of blankets for children in need. After her presentation, the Blanketeers had a clearer vision of what they were doing there that Thursday evening and what an impact their simple contribution—only ~2 hours of their time!—will have. For those of you who are interested, please go to www.projectlinus.org to read the mission of this special organization and you will see why there is such a comfortable relationship between Linus and Lions.

At the end of the evening, our group completed fifty-one blankets and seventeen have since been completed at home totaling 68 Lion-made blankets donated to Project Linus this year. As our Blanketeers left, each knew they had done good work those last few hours. The flyer that was sent out to the Club announcing the event stated, “IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ALL WARM AND FUZZY INSIDE AND OUT”. Ask anyone who was there and I know they will tell you they felt the fuzz!

Special thanks to Lion Don Lang for arranging the venue; it is the perfect spot to do this sort of event. And extra-special thanks to Sharon Lee who has given up her evenings to come and join us each of these past four years. And thanks to all Blanketeers, present-past-and-future! Special, you all are!!

Contributed by Lion Leslye