2,013.76. That's how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed on Monday.

423 and 19. That, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. as of this writing and the number of deaths, respectively. Those figures, of course, are bound to rise.

But let's talk about a better number, a happier number: 5,124.

That's the number of sick, vulnerable kids in Martin and St. Lucie counties who've gotten a little something to tide them through tough times, courtesy of a group of local women with big hearts — and sharp knitting needles.

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On Monday, the Martin/St. Lucie counties chapter of Project Linus gathered at the Kane Center in south Stuart to mark a milestone.

Project Linus is a nationwide non-profit that provides blankets and quilts to children in need. The local group began with 14 members in late 2012; it now boasts 58 members from the two counties.

And after sewing/knitting/crocheting and donating 1,039 blankets in 2019 alone, the ladies needed just 43 more to hit the 5,000 mark. They crushed it over the past two months, crafting and donating 167, obliterating their goal.

"We work really hard at home, by ourselves," said member Karen Goforth.

"I'm proud of these ladies," she said.

The group partners with local agencies serving kids, including Cleveland Clinic Martin Memorial, where some of the blankets go to kids in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Jupiter Medical Center, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute, Sandy Pines Residential Treatment Center in Tequesta, the Children's Home Society of Florida's Child Protection Team and the non-profit Guardians for New Futures also get the blankets.

Sick kids get them, as do kids who have been mistreated.

"Many go to kids who have suffered sexual abuse," said club member Lana Stewart.

The name "Project Linus," of course, comes from the Charles Schulz "Peanuts" character who can't imagine life without his blue blanket. The hope is that these kids who get the blankets — who need reassurance, who need healing — will find some solace in their warmth.

Another hope is that the blanket might soak up their tears and give them something to hang onto as they look forward to sunnier days.

The hard part for the quilters and the blanketeers (is that a word?) is that they don't get to meet the kids. Sometimes, said Stewart, representatives from the agencies who get the blankets will bring a picture of kids who've received a blanket. But that's generally about it.

It must be lonely, I said, to sit home and knit or sew, knowing you're making some sort of a difference but never being able to quantify it, to meet the kids who might say "thank you."

"We don't get to see the results, but you know you're helping many people in our two counties," said Goforth.

"Every blanket counts."

At Monday's confab, 167 new ones were added to the donation pile. During "show and tell," the ladies displayed their handiwork; creative and detailed, these aren't pieces tossed off to fill some obligation.

They really are labors of love.

Donors sometimes provide free fabric/material to keep the blanketeers' costs down. No member has to donate a blanket; but Stewart said an average of 60 to 70 per month are completed and donated.

Many of the members have already gifted quilts to folks in their own families, said Goforth. This is what they do; it's just that Project Linus has given them a chance to do it for a cause.

"We know we're helping children," said Goforth.

And in doing so — they help us all.

Gil Smart is a TCPalm columnist and a member of the Editorial Board. His columns reflect his opinion; if you like what you read please consider subscribing to TCPalm. Gil can be reached at gil.smart@tcpalm.com, by phone at (772) 223-4741 or via Twitter at @TCPalmGilSmart.