Thursday, October 19, 2017

Jimmy Hikok and the Inuit Children's Centre

Heyyy so now I have more news and some questions for you.

As I mentioned last week, the amazing people at Canadian North are sponsoring us with shipments for Jimmy Hikok school.  We simply love them.  We could not have a better sponsor.

So packing night is November 16th, but I got an email from the principal of the school this week:  they are completely out of mittens and have had an unusually cold fall.  They also appreciate neck warmers and hats.  The age groups that they want are 5-12.   I have packed up every pair of mittens in that category that I could find - many were in the boxes that I opened last week.  I'm going to make a one-off trip to the airport this weekend just so that we can get the box (big box, which I will vacuum pack) to them before the Christmas cargo rush.  Fingers crossed.  For Jimmy Hikok, we will probably drop off in early Jan for the next set of boxes and we will do as many as we can in one shot.

Also, the doctors are going up in Jan, just to note.

In the meantime, we are now at "0" for mittens.  If you've got them, I'd be grateful to receive them.  I'd also be grateful to receive more hats and neck warmers in the age group mentioned above.  We're especially low in the smaller sizes.

Here is the second ask: we are going to partner with the Inuit Children's Centre in Ottawa.  They have several head start, preschool and young people projects on the go.  Here is my note from the program head:

 To give you an idea of the numbers of children/youth that attend our programs, we have about 120 children attend programming daily between our Early years and afterschool program, we also have about 40-50 teenagers attending programming.  

Here is what I'd really like to do but I don't know if its possible:  I'd like to do a project where we give sweaters, hats, and neck warmers to the program, along with wrapping paper/wrapping supplies.  Then the teens can wrap presents for the little ones.  I understand that a part of the program relates to giving back to the community, so we'd just be oiling the wheels a bit.

What do we think?  I am a bit worried about the numbers and timing, but it wouldn't be the first time that you guys have pulled off something spectacular.  Again, think young sizes: up to age 12.  But its also nice if we can put together a box for the teens.  If we think we can do this, then I'm going to reach out to the organizers and find out age groups.  If we can't pull it together quickly, its fine: we will still deliver everything we can.  

***So peeps, if you've got stuff you've been hiding away, and you can get it to me by November 16th (packing night), then maybe we can get it done.  Stronger together!

I opened a few more boxes tonight and here are some pics.  With love and gratitude,

ab


Olive Wade (Omaw) of Moncton NB: your stuff went so well with my tablecloth that I just had to photograph them.

The ladies of Huntsville are very close to my heart.  They provided these lovely neck warmers as well as some AMAZING blankets, which I'm going to keep as presents for the preschoolers at the Children's Centre.  Bernice and Janet Smith, and Karen McKaskill, you know I love you guys, right?

And the Ottawa Knitter's Guild made these amazing sweaters.  Thank you so much, guys!










Sunday, October 15, 2017

Slightly Shorter but Just as Sweet

Lets catch up!

Right now we've got a couple of ideas but there is no rush to send in your stuff.  We will be shipping to the ENT doctors in 2018 but right now, we are thinking about a shipment to Jimmy Hikok school again.  We got sponsorship again this year for the boxes (thank you so much Canadian North.  We love you!!!).  I spoke to the principal last week.  She said that they are down to their last 3 pairs of mittens, but still have sweaters left to give out.  Their request is for mittens, hats and neck warmers.  I'm just trying to coordinate shipping (Executive Committee, this will be our priority on packing night).  In addition, we are trying to work something out with a Inuit children's community centre here in Ottawa - stay tuned for that one - the projects could be very very...cool.  Then of course, there is always Baffin Larga.

Confessions: there have been so many packages and I am so backlogged that I made an executive decision and have photographed only a couple of items from each box.  I loved them all, though and we will definitely oooh and ahhh over them when the team meets in November.  Love to all of you.

ab

Liechty from Goshen Indiana

Hats from Guelph!

N Martel from Beaconsfield Quebec

Jackie Lambert (hi Jackie!) from West Richland WA

Janet Wright from Fredricton NB - thanks, J!

Lori Meyer (nannylor on Rav) from Kensington, PEI

Please tell me who sent these because I love them and there was no note

Vivienne Shishakly, Saint-Lazare QC - nice to see you back!

The Haileybury Knitters

The lovely and talented Dr Peg of Midland (accounting students, I must know more...)

Our favourite Canadian in Japan, Barbara Dreher

Atopbing (Anna Bing of Morrisburg, ON)

Lois Manton of Montreal QC

Anne Saint of Victoria Harbour ON

The pics above and below were obviously made with love but without a note, I can't tell who the lovely contributor is!

Picked up a ton of items from Yarn Forward - here are a couple of shots.