For two weeks in July, Abbey United Reformed Church hosted Linus quilts as part of this year’s Romsey Festival.
Project Linus UK is a volunteer-based project that provides homemade, washable quilts to babies, children and teenagers. The quilts on display in the beautiful Abbey URC were made by members of the Romsey Quilters. Following the exhibition, the quilts were donated to children’s care homes, premature baby units and to other children in need of a hug. As part of the display there were two full-sized quilts. These were given to 18-year olds who would soon be moving on from children’s care homes.
In the past, “portable hugs” have been donated to a wide range of needy children and young people, many of them sick, disadvantaged, living with a disability, or having experienced some form of trauma.
Project Linus, which is a not-for-profit organisation, relying entirely on volunteers and donations, was founded in the UK in March 2000. It was based on the original Project Linus movement that started in the United States in 1995, and is named after the security blanket-toting character from the Peanuts comic strip. The cartoon’s creator, Charles Schultz, was pleased to have Linus inspire quilt makers to help sick and traumatised children. Since its own foundation, Project Linus UK has delivered 666,45 quilts nationally.
Alongside a thank you for the exhibition on Abbey URC’s website was this apt thought for reflection: “We are all works in progress. We do not have to be perfect to receive God’s unconditional love.”