Wool-Aid

Late last year I learned one of my favorite charities, Warm Woolies, was no longer able to transport knitted items to where they could do the most good and had to make the difficult decision to cease operation.

There was a large group of Warm Woolies supporters on Ravelry, and they decided not to let all those willing hands, hooks and needles go to waste, and began Wool-Aid.

Wool-aid is unique in that, rather than determining one charity to knit for, they find out which charities need help and put their efforts toward helping them for a period of time. They partner with other organizations to get as many items to those who need them as we can produce.

I know many of my readers aren't knitters, but if you feel moved to do so, any funds they receive help offset the costs of shipping, enabling them to do as much as they can. Information on where to send money (and a Paypal link) found HERE

Their welcome page states:

Wool-Aid is a community of knitters and crocheters who create warm woolen garments for children who live in the coldest climates and have the least access to resources.

Our mission is to provide the very neediest children with wool socks,sweaters, vests, mittens, and hats, as well as wool baby blankets for newborns.

We work with organizations that have a focus on helping children and that are not religion-based. These organizations distribute the warm woolen garments handcrafted by Wool-Aid volunteers to children who would otherwise suffer from extreme cold.

Last month they sent a huge mound of warm items to children in Labrador, distributed via the Warm Hands Network and the Next Generation Guardians

Current campaigns include mittens and hats for Mittens For Akkol, baby blankets and socks for the Warm Hands Network, and what really touched my heart, a tribute to Warm Woolies, and its founder, Kimberly Turnbow.

Wool-Aid is launching a new campaign – a Tribute to Warm Woolies and Kimberly Turnbow to knit warm and wooly socks that will be sent to Mittens for Akkol for their annual Sock Challenge. Mittens for Akkol serves children in orphanages in Kazakhstan, where it is often 40 degrees below zero in mid-winter.

Let’s show our appreciation for Warm Woolies’ mission and for all that it has done for children since it began in 2003. This is a great opportunity for you to knit the pattern for children’s socks designed by Kimberly for Warm Woolies and know that the socks will benefit children who really need them!

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Guidelines for Sock Knitters for this campaign:

• Wool (at least 80% wool/animal fiber)
• Worsted weight yarn or worsted stranded with sock yarn or worsted weight doubled or bulky yarn
• Sock length at least 7 inches (heel to toe)
• Sock height at least 8 inches (top of cuff to base of heel) (or a minimum of 6 inches above the heel flap or equal to foot length — please meet any of these requirements).
• Children are ages 3 to 16, and the greatest need is for the older children, sizes 8 to adult.
• More socks are needed in a 9-inch length than any other size.
• Please tie socks of a pair together, with a bow at the top of the cuff, before sending.

You may use any pattern that you enjoy knitting, as long as the finished socks meet the guidelines above.

Campaign ends April 30th.