If you guys haven’t already heard, we’re taking a few hours out of our day on Friday to make some blankets that we will then donate to Project Linus for our Holiday Service Project. I thought I’d provide you all with some information on the initiative beforehand, as it’s a pretty awesome organization and we’re excited to be helping them out.
Project Linus began in 1995, when founder Karen Loucks decided to provide homemade security blankets to Denver's Rocky Mountain Children's Cancer Center after reading an article about a certain cancer-ridden child and how her security blanket had helped get her through chemotherapy. And thus, Project Linus was born. Based in Missouri, it continues to grow, and it now has chapters in all 50 states (with 24 in California alone!)
Essentially, these chapters collect new, handmade blankets and afghans for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need within hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies. As put by the organization: "Purchased blankets are nice, but handmade blankets are from the heart...We receive thousands of letters and thank you notes every year from children. Over and over they express how touched they are that a stranger would take the time to make something for them. They really know the difference." Since its launch in 1995, they’ve successfully collected and donated over 6.6 million blankets!
The chapter that we’re donating to specifically provides blankets to kids in Head Start, The Giving Tree, and Toys for Tots.
We’re excited to be partnering with Project Linus and are pumped to make allllll the blankies on Friday!
Quick PSA: Travis is no longer with SlideBelts. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors. If you happened to draw Travis for the Secret Santa activity, please go see Courtney.
Continuation of last Tuesday's loop…
Dorian got sentenced to two years at a federal penitentiary. But luckily, this is exactly what he needed. This was the turning point for Dorian. While in prison, he gained a love for sports and began to work on his health by working out 2-3 times a day. Once he was released, he saved up for a running foot for his prosthetic leg. He then soon began training for jujitsu, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and track and field competitions. He even went on to compete on numerous of 5K’s,10k’s and even a few half marathons.
In 2016 Dorian decided to strive for more and ran for the Paralympic Games in RIO. He made it to the national qualifiers in track and field but fell short by half a second. But, no need to feel too bad for the guy…for the past 3 years, Dorian has competed all around the world on the USA National Bobsled and Skeleton team and has a couple of state and world records under his belt in powerlifting.
But, aside from working towards his love of sports, Dorian also wanted to help others. And so he began sharing his story at schools, corporations, and nonprofits in hopes that others wouldn’t do the same mistakes he did. Dorian has now spoken to over 100,000 kids and even coaches kids with limb deficiencies all across the nation.
Today, Dorian continues to strive for more and has no plans on slowing down. He left prison at the age of 32 and has definitely lived his life to its fullest ever since.
“We all make bad decisions in our lives but it’s NEVER too late to make changes…[t]here is light at the end of the tunnel so don’t give up.”
We all know how stressful the Holidays are, but working here has shown me how much we can accomplish as a team. From the warehouse crew hustling to get the orders out, the creatives staying late to get those images ready, to everyone in the office who are working hard to get everything finished on time. We all work great together, as a team, to achieve the goal of making SlideBelts thrive and grow.
My point is that there's no need to cry in the shower anymore, because I know that no matter what is thrown at us, as a team, we can overcome and over exceed expectations!