The Sallal Grange’s Project Linus Blanket Bee in North Bend has been chosen as the beneficiary of local life scout Tory Shomler’s Eagle project.

Shomler’s project is to collect enough fleece and flannel to produce 100 blankets, a needed and welcome support for the blanket bee program.

Every other month “blanketeers” from the Snoqualmie Valley descend upon the Sallal Grange Hall and make no-sew blankets for Project Linus.

Project Linus, named after the beloved “Peanuts” character who kept a security blanket with him at all times, provides hand-made blankets and quilts to children and teens in traumatic situations, to provide comfort and security. These handmade blankets are often cherished by the kids, and their parents and grandparents, as a symbol of how much someone cares.

As a keystone in the process of becoming an Eagle Scout, a scout must complete a service project that demonstrates leadership and organization, and must benefit the community or an organization.

Eagle is the highest rank a scout can attain. Former President Gerald Ford, filmmaker Steven Spielberg, first person on the moon Neil Armstrong, and Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton were all Eagle Scouts.

“I wanted to do something local,” Shomler said. “My mother and sister had helped out at Project Linus a couple of years ago.”

The Sallal Grange blanketeers produced more than 100 blankets last year, and is on track to produce even more this year, but the raw materials are the bottleneck.

“We have a very tight budget on how much we can spend,” said Leah Aichele, Director of Family Living and the head of the blanket bee. “We shop the remnant tables at fabric stores, but we rely on donations to make up the difference. People have been very generous, but this is just outstanding.”

The project runs through the end of April, and donations can be dropped off at the Fall City Public Library.

For more information, contact Shomler at (425) 606-9429, or send email to toryshomler@yahoo.com.