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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 18, 2014 | 22 Nothing beats a `blankie' in times of trouble when you're young by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff The Peanuts character Linus van Pelt was rarely seen without his blanket, which gave him a sense of security and comfort. Project Linus Canada gives those same feelings to children who are terminally or seriously ill or who have suffered a trauma in their life. Thanks to Margaret Martingano, founder of the Oakville chapter, local children will have that sense of comfort with a blanket of their own. "(It's) simply as a means of providing security and something that belongs to them and something that helps them through what they're going through," she said. Martingano officially launched the Oakville chapter of Project Linus at the beginning of this year because the non-profit organization, which originated in the U.S., touched her as a creative way to give back to the community and teach her children -- two boys, aged 13 and 14 -- the importance of getting involved, she said. "I wanted my children to learn to give back and it didn't matter in what way... that they understand there are people out there who are going through things and that you do something, whatever you can, within your community to give back," she said. "You get involved and do what you can, no Margaret Martingano makes blankets and quilts for terminally-ill children after starting the Oakville chapter of Project Linus. Pictured with her is her son Alexander, who gives her ideas for the designs. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) matter how big or small, you do something." Project Linus is the brainchild of founder Karen Loucks-Baker of Colorado, Ill., who was inspired in 1995 by a photo of a three-year-old cancer patient and her "special blankie." "(She) said her blankie helped her deal with her chemotherapy and illness, making her feel happy and secure," said Martingano. "Karen wondered if other ailing children would like se- PUBLIC AUCTION HARDWOOD & ENGINEERED FLOORING preview and viewing at 3620B Laird Rd., Mississauga unit #6 Tuesday July 22 from 2-6PM curity blankets. The answer from a local cancer centre was a resounding yes." Project Linus now has chapters all over North America. And it sends blankets to victims of national disasters, as well as local organizations. Martingano said the experience of knitting together her first blanket for Project Linus Canada confirmed she was doing the right thing. She went along with a friend whose daughter was at a skating competition. One evening, while Martingano was knitting, one of the girls on the team asked what she was doing and if she could knit a blanket for her own neighbour -- an 11-year-old girl who had brain cancer. "We were told at the time there was a limited time this girl had left," Martingano said. "I knitted furiously... my boys never let me put the knitting down... and it was about a month ago that she had passed on. "It was very touching, these young girls were so engaged in giving this blanket to their sick friend." Although Martingano has found a knitting group to assist, she says she is still in need of 2025 volunteers to make blankets for children at the Ronald McDonald House, Halton Women's Place, Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and Mississauga's Credit Valley Hospital -- delivery of the first batch is set for July 30. "We're looking for people to make blankets or squares that can be knitted, crocheted or quilted... it all depends on what people want to or can do," she said. "Make a bunch and drop them off -- it can be a one-time thing or a constant thing. We leave it up to the volunteers." Squares are needed to make blankets of either 20 by 40 inches, 30 x 50 in., or 40 x 60 in., and can be any colour. "The only restrictions are your own imagination," noted Martingano. "It's (Project Linus) such a wonderful thing and... it's hopefully a bright moment in what is otherwise not an easy time for families and kids." Anyone interested in helping, can contact Martingano at 905-829-2819 or emartingano@ sympatico.ca. For more on Project Linus, visit www.projectlinuscanada.org. starts Thursday July 17th to Thursday July 24th at 7 PM Online only Auction at www.403auction.com UNRESERVED AUCTION, NO MINIMUM BIDS · OVER 40,000 SQ FT Take Advantage of Low Auction Pricing. Our average buyer saves thousands of dollars over Retail. We sell by the square foot so you only have to BUY WHAT YOU NEED! You loved the last one so top quality Hardwood Flooring for less is back. 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