Maggie Salutes … Donna Clarke

Raised in the Baltimore area, Donna Clarke majored in elementary art education at Millerville University of Pennsylvania. She taught art for several years in Baltimore County while her husband finished college. They moved to Southern Maryland and then to Worchester County where they have made their permanent home.

The Clarke family now includes two sons and a daughter. When they moved to this area, Donna became a stay-at-home mom and taught quilting at night for Worchester County. About ten years ago, Donna went back to school at Salisbury University, majoring in Medical Technology. She currently works at McCready Hospital.

Donna’s mother has been involved in Project Linus in the Baltimore area and suggested that with her love of quilting, Donna might want to begin a local group.

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission. First is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.” Second is to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities to benefit children. Anyone, any age, can help. Salem United Methodist Church in Pocomoke is the sponsor of a Lower Shore Project Linus group.

Donna is the coordinator but she needs help! There are thank you notes to write, tags to sew on, bookkeeping for quarterly reports, and volunteers are needed to make blankets. Volunteers can come anywhere in the area.

Blankets can be of all sizes from 25” to 60”, from small flannel blankets for Neonatal units to larger ones for teens.

Each hospital or other organization will give the blankets to children as they see fit, generally to kids with long term illnesses, those needing multiple surgical procedures, chronic abuse victims, etc., both boys and girls. Quilts for girls are most often contributed, so consider quilts for boys or gender neutral designs when you are sewing, knitting or crocheting. Local retailers are having Project Linus “Make a Blanket Days” in February.

Robin of Robinanne’s Quilting Service on Market Street in Pocomoke will be sponsoring 2 blanket Saturdays, February 1st and 8th from 9:30am through the afternoon. Bring a sewing machine and some colorful cotton scraps. Robin has graciously offered to quilt all the blankets completed that day. The “square in a square” pattern will be taught. Call 410-957-4766 or 800-561-4766 to register.

On Valentine’s Day. February 14, 10am – 4pm, Jenny’s Sewing Studio in the Twilley Center in Salisbury will sponsor a blanket day. Please pre-register at 410-543-1212. Bring 8-1/4 yards of fabric pre-cut into 2-1/2” x 45” strips. Each participant will receive 2 tickets for Janome Sewing Machine Giveaway and additional tickets will be given to anyone dropping off a quilt between February 1st and 14th. The log cabin pattern will be taught.

It is with great pleasure that Maggie salutes Donna Clarke.