On the gymnasium floor of Mansfield Elementary School Leslie Wyers helped her two sons make blankets for children in need in the school’s annual participation with the Linus Project on Dec. 5
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
COLUMBUS — On the gymnasium floor of Mansfield Elementary School Leslie Wyers helped her two sons make blankets for children in need in the school’s annual participation with the Linus Project on Dec. 5.
Her son Logan, was just one of 120 fourth graders who gathered funds for fabric ultimately crafted by he and his fellow classmates into fleece blankets referred to as ‘hugs’ to bring comfort for students in need.
Unlike the majority of the participants, however, Ms. Wyers knows just how much an impact the “hugs” can have as her son received two blankets after he underwent a kidney transplant two years ago at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Specifically, it meant a lot that the blanket was specifically catered to her son’s interests — in this case, the fact that he is a Philadelphia Phillies fan.
”It was really nice to have something on his bed that was kid-oriented, something he was interested in,” Ms. Wyers said. “It made it less of a hospital bed and more of a kids’ bed.
”It helps normalize a little bit the experience when you’re in a hospital,” she added. “He was excited to get it. He still has it. It was a little bright spot in his day.”
She said it is important to “instill in kids about helping other kids and others,” and thought that the project was a great way to do so.
According to district officials, the Linus Project was started in 1995 by a parent of a cancer patient. Since then, it has expanded to include children who are seriously ill or traumatized in many ways.
Over 400 chapters of Project Linus work nationally and have donated well over 2,000,000 blankets to date.
In addition to raising funds for the project and putting the blankets together, students are also able to pick out specific fabrics that depict a variety of interests including sports as well as characters from popular films or TV shows.
Marianne McCarthy, coordinator of the South Jersey Chapter, said the program has a positive impact for children facing a whole myriad of challenges.
”You hear all these just amazing stories of how significantly it has affected the children,” Ms. McCarthy said. “I love this program because it’s rewarding on both ends – these children and the volunteers.
”It’s a nice social activity that they’re doing,” she added. “It’s teaching them to care for their community.”
She noted through the program blankets are also distributed to foster parents for the first time they meet the children they will be taking care of.
The program also benefits underprivileged children.
”Some of these children who are poor it’s the only warmth that they have,” she said.
Kelley Tellefsen, a teacher at the school, said the project represents a rare opportunity to bring the entire fourth grade class together for a worthy cause.
”They’re learning about kindness, compassion, helping and not seeing the people they’re helping,” Ms. Tellefsen said. “I think that’s a little more special.”
She said the fact that sixth graders who have fourth grade siblings return to participate again speaks to the positive impact the project has on its participants.
”They’re coming to give back,” she said.
Ms. Tellefsen and others noted how the blankets are specifically referred to as ‘hugs’ meant to provide comfort to their respective recipient.
Mayra Mojena and her son Matthew, a fourth grader at the school, were both enthusiastic about the project.
Matthew said participating in the project was “fun” but also made him feel “good and grateful” at the same time.
Ms. Mojena, who is on the PTSC board, said she wants to expand the project within the school district.
”This can grow,” Ms. Mojena said, noting how it would be a natural pitch to middle and high school students, many of whom have already participated.

