Students at Wright State University came together for a blanket-tying event, Project Linus, hosted by National Residence Hall Honorary, or NRHH, and funded by Residence Life and Housing.
As part of WSU's yearly blanket-tying event, Project Linus, WSU students met on a Tuesday night in the Honors Plaza to tie fleece blankets for sick kids.
The blankets crafted during the event will be donated to Dayton Children's Hospital, where they will be given to young children with a variety of health issues.
The WSU Office of Residence Life and Housing contributed funding for this year's program, allowing students to make these blankets for free.
Riley Renne Wells, Vice President of NRHH, feels that Project Linus is one of the club's most eagerly awaited annual activities, as it unites students with a tangible act of community service.
"It demonstrates what this community is capable of seeing students take the time to help children they will probably never meet. These blankets may appear small, but they can represent comfort, security and something that can be held onto when visiting a child in the hospital," Wells said.
Salliea Holland, the President of NRHH characterized Project Linus as something that is based on empathy, saying that students are excited to join, finding the activity both calming and meaningful. Holland helped in organizing the event and recruiting volunteers.
"Students love that they can relax, chat with friends, and support a great cause at the same time. We want each participant to leave with the knowledge that they had a direct impact on a child's life. That's really what NRHH is about- service with purpose," Holland said.
Students came and went from the lounge throughout the evening. Some blankets had cartoon characters on them, while others had hearts, stars or basic geometric designs.
To ensure that new participants could complete a blanket, NRHH members moved about the room, offering guidance and support.
Venkata Thanoj Varma Atluri, a computer science student, was one of the many participants who contributed to the blanket-tying effort.
"You don't always get chances to make a direct impact as a student; this event felt special. Knowing these blankets will help kids, makes the whole experience worth it," Atluri said.
Members of NRHH announced that they anticipate that the hospital will receive the blankets this week.
The club intends to keep growing service-based initiatives like this one.
"We will continue doing this as long as our students are willing to show up. This kind of event serves as a reminder of the importance of community," Wells said.
