DURHAM, N. H. - It wasn't just the idea of getting a free pass to Disneyland that inspired University of New Hampshire students to make blankets for Project Linus, a national organization that provides a measure of comfort to sick children. But the offer from the theme park is a nice bonus.

UNH students from three residence halls-- Hetzel, Hubbard and Williamson—raised more than $1,000 to buy fabric. On Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., they'll get together and turn that fleece into more than 70 blankets for Project Linus. The event takes place in Hubbard Hall study lounge.

"Being involved in Project Linus not only spreads warm fuzzies but it allows college students to get together in a social and fun atmosphere and do something good for the larger community," says Faina Bukher, hall director of Hubbard Hall. 

Bukher has been involved with Project Linus for four years and has coordinated UNH residence halls' participation with the national organization for the last two. Project Linus strives to give seriously ill or traumatized children a sense of security and comfort through the gift of new blankets made by volunteers from around the country. To date the nonprofit organization has donated more than 3 million blankets.

Representatives from Project Linus will be at UNH Feb. 20 during the blanket making event. Volunteers participaing in the project will receive a free one-day ticket to Florida's Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland in California through the company's 'Give A Day, Get a Disney Day' volunteer program.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

-30-