Mom and Son are Heroes to Local Children.

At just eight years old, Kimberly Couches’ son, Gregory, said he wanted to do something to help fellow local children going through difficult times. The two of them looked at a few different charities before discovering Project Linus. Project Linus is a national organization with hundreds of local chapters across the United States. Named after the Charlie Brown character who famously carried around his special blanket, the members of Project Linus make special homemade blankets that go straight to children in need. With no chapter serving our area, Gregory and his mother Kim founded The Linus Project Mid-Shore. Because they founded this local Linus Project chapter, we have decided to name Kim and Greg our 2nd local Heroes of the Year! 

Since being founded, Project Linus has grown and grown, and they now serve Queen Anne’s County, Kent County and Caroline County. On average, Kim told me that the group makes “a few hundred” blankets for local children in need every single year. These blankets go to a variety of places, including the emergency room in Queenstown, the hospitals in Chestertown and Easton, and Haven Ministries. Kim is very grateful to Callahan’s Laundry in Centreville, who washes all the blankets for Project Linus for free before they are donated. 

Kim says the best part about making the blankets for her and Greg is the responses from the children and families who receive them. Because of the Project Linus label on the blanket, they have received dozens of messages, anonymous and not, from both the local children who have received the blankets and their parents. Kim described one message from a local father that specifically touched her. As a child, he dealt with childhood cancer and received a blanket from Project Linus that helped him get through the difficult time. After recovering from cancer and having children of his own, one of them tragically was diagnosed with cancer. The man was able to take solace in the fact that his son would have his own homemade blanket to help soothe him while he was in the hospital. Kim told me that the little moments like this one make all the hard work she does worth it. 

When Greg, who is now in the ninth grade, isn’t busy being a hero to local children, he enjoys sports including football and wrestling. Kim, who is a local healthcare worker, likes to hike, read and see movies in the theater.

In the past, The Linus Project held monthly blanket making get-togethers, though because of the pandemic they have to put these fun in-person events on hold. They are always looking for more people to make blankets. If you are interested, you can: go to their website www.projectlinus.org to learn more; visit their facebook page titled “Project Linus Queen Anne, Kent, Talbot & Caroline Co Maryland;” or, reach them by phone at 410-924-2488. Help them make blankets for those in need, and you too can be a hero!