It's been awhile since there's been an update from Warm Hands Network HQ. Some knitters have been asking about what's up, so I thought I'd better provide an update. Packages have been trickling in the past few months, and I'm sure my local letter carrier is wondering what I'm up to! Lately he's getting a good workout navigating my skating rink of a driveway with large packages.
We were going to have a packing night in January, but a few members of Team Packing couldn't make it due to travel and illness. As well, because of the ice and snow that have accumulated here on my street, leaving a shortage of parking, and because my driveway is basically unsafe at this point (see above), we postponed packing night until later in March.
Back in December I brought a 25 lb box of items to a fellow who works in Iqaluit and who was in Ottawa over Christmas. He gave them to his colleague, one of our "runners", who then distributed the items to communities further north.
We missed the doctors' trip to Iqaluit in January, as I received last-minute notice that they were going up, and I was out of town at the time. With our packing night later this month, we will have boxes ready to go when transport opportunities present themselves.
I've made a couple of trips to Larga Baffin with blankets, slippers, a few baby things, donated fur coats, knitting and sewing supplies. These are always well received.
At this time, I'd like to mention a few things regarding the items being contributed. We appreciate the time, effort, and expense that go into creating items for the children and families up north. However, lately there have been some issues with some of the items that have been contributed. If you're not sure about sizing, try the item on yourself or a family member or friend. If it is something you or someone in your family would wear, then please send it. Please "think warm" with regards to yarn and pattern choices - natural fibres, and no decorative holes or lace patterns. Due to limited space on our shipments, we cannot ship items which are not new, have been used, are not suitable for very cold weather (ie. -35C), or preemie or small baby items. If you have friends who are knitting for the Warm Hands Network, please pass on this information to them. If you are unsure of something, please send me a message via the website main page or Ravelry. Thanks for your cooperation!
Without further ado, here are the items that will be going up north with the next shipments. We have received quite a number of packages and bags without names associated with them, so if you don't see your items it's because there was no name on or in the package. As well, sometimes I miss taking a photo of items, or I just take a photo of a sampling of your items. My apologies in advance if I missed something of yours.
Box ready to go!
From Kathy in Orleans, ON
From Sandra in Nelson, BC
From Mary in Indiana
From Melanie in Burnaby, BC
From Wendy in Ottawa
From Jackie in Washington State
From Wendy in Smoky Lake, Alberta
From Lynn in Selkirk, ON
From Beverly in Toronto (this is just a fraction of the mittens she sent)
From Olive in New Brunswick
From the Huntsville trio of knitters
From Phyllis in Colorado
From Anne in Victoria Harbour, ON
From Shirley in London, ON
From Karen in Brampton, ON
From Jackie in Washington
From Jan in Parksville, BC
From Beverly in Toronto
From Grace Sophia in California
From Peggy in Midland, ON
From Tracey in Burlington
From Tracey in Burlington
From Sharon in Illinois
From Sabrina in Mississauga, ON
From Maureen in Kamloops, BC
From Maddy in Waterloo (there were other cute hats too)
From Marlene in Ottawa
(oops! lost my note re: this contributor)
Thanks everyone for your contributions! Once again, you can see that we have contributors from all over the place!
- Suzanne (on behalf of the Warm Hands Network team)
