06/14/2026
Snowball Express: It's time to start getting ready for the Gary Sinese Foundation's Snowball Express event where they honor children of loved ones that have lost their lives serving our country (in the military and emergency/community services around the US).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION about your donations:
This event of the Gary Sinise Foundation is held annually in December for Gold Star kids (children who have lost active military parents) and kids of fallen first responders (in a separate following session). You can learn more about the event at [https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/programs/honoring-families-of-fallen-heroes
Our need across the country will be for about 1500 of all types of blankets at least 45x60, inspected, fleece selvages removed, 1 label sewn on each (stitch with machine on all 4 edges of the label please), checked for pins, and ready to distribute. I've committed 50 blankets from our chapter, but we will do more if they need them. We want to allow as many chapters to participate that want to do so. Snowball Express must be 45 X 60 or larger. If you can put a note on the bag when you donate them that says Snowball Express that will help. We will use as many for this initiative as possible but extras will be used to serve children in other organizations.
THIS IS IMPORTANT to note: This year we will continue to need the service-specific blankets (Army, Marines, etc.) but we already have plenty of Navy on hand. In addition, we do NOT need any more red, white, and blue blankets. (Keep in mind red, white and blue are perfect for Hugs for Heroes blankets noted above.)
All blankets should be turned in to regular drop off locations by September 15th at the latest!
Specifications on what is needed:
All blankets MUST be handmade of NEW, washable materials, from smoke free environments, and free of scent such as fabric softener. All the normal Project Linus standards apply. Specifications• Make sure that the blankets are of all new materials: quilts, fleece, knitted, or crochet.• All blankets must be 45 X 60 or larger. No exceptions. The children who attend must be at least 5 years old, so we do not need baby blankets. Please measure before sending.
o 1 ½ to 2 yards of fleece makes a nice blanket. See projectlinus.org for finishing patterns ideas. Be sure they lie flat after finishing• For fleece blankets, please make sure that they do not have selvages, and are ONE layer only.
• Quilts should have batting or have fleece backs. No lightweight quilts with just 2 layers of cotton or cotton with flannel.
• Chapters will inspect, measure, check for pins and securely sew on a Project Linus National label. Sew labels on flat and secure all four sides, please. Nothing else, no extra tags, labels, or notes. No glue or iron on• Do not wrap up or package the blankets in any way. No individual plastic bags, no yarn or bows, nothing. We just have to take those off for sorting and for the children to be able to choose.
Themes – DO’s!• Service-specific blankets are our greatest request (Army, Marines, Air Force/Space Force, Coast Guard, - in that order). For the first responders’ kids, fire & police themes, as well as medical/rescue are appreciated. We have lots of accumulated Navy so none this year, please.• Next favorite are Star Wars, Superheroes, Minions, Disney, Hello Kitty.• These kids also like popular themes so we need plenty of sports, cartoon characters, cheer, gymnastics, puppies, kittens, horses, bugs, any animal, mermaids, unicorns, dinosaurs, etc.• We do want blankets from National major league teams (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA)!• The kids loved blankets that were entirely knitted or crocheted. They also loved chunky chenille afghans.
Themes- DON’Ts!• DO NOT send any blankets that closely resemble the US flag. Flags are draped over caskets at military and first responder funerals and may remind of that terrible day. (Flags within a print ok.)• We have lots of accumulated RW&B blankets so none this year except the service specific, please.• No College teams/logos – we can’t know where kids are from or who they support.• No Christmas or specific holiday-themed blankets. We want the kids to love & use their blankets year round.
Thank you so much to all our Project Linus volunteers for supporting the kids at Snowball Express.
