December 5, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 19 Just before Thanksgiving break, 80 seventh graders from Midland Park lent their support to Project Linus through a voluntary community service project. With the assistance and mentorship of juniors and seniors from the Student Senate, the seventh graders put together “no-sew” fleece blankets for children in need. This community service project was organized by the seventh grade teaching team of Miss Audino, Mr. Gangi, Mrs. Goodell, Mrs. Mallon, Mrs. Rohlf, and Miss Walker. Blankets made by the students were donated to Project Linus, a non-profit organization that provides security through blankets. The organization takes its name from the well-loved cartoon character, Linus, who was rarely without his own security blanket. Project Linus distributes handmade blankets to children who are suffering serious illness or trauma. The organization’s outreach includes local facilities that serve fragile children, including Hackensack University Medical Center Pediatric Units, Children’s Aid and Family Services of Bergen County, The Children’s Hospital of Hudson County at Jersey City Medical Center, Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson, Valley Hospital Pediatric Units and Pediatric Emergency, Englewood Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care, and “My Stuff” Bags Foundation. Students who participated had the option of bringing their own fleece and making a blanket, or helping someone else work on a blanket. Discounted fleece was made available at Jo-Ann Fabric in Ramsey. The blankets are assembled in a few simple steps from polar fleece material cut into 1.5-yard pieces. Students were instructed to trim off the selvage edges and square any uneven edges. They then cut a four-inch square from each corner of the fleece, discarded those squares, and cut four-inch by one-inch fringe around the edge of the blanket. Using a seam ripper, the students made a tiny slit in the top of each piece of fringe, fed the end of the fringe though the back side of the slit, and pulled the end through to create a neat, secure fringed edge. For additional information about Project Linus, visit www.projectlinus.org. Project Linus gets support from local seventh graders Teacher Teresa Mallon, second from right, with students.