Ending 2019 on a high note!

Sovereign's Medal Awarded to WHN Volunteers

Hi everyone, I have some wonderful news to share with you! The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers is a Canadian national award that recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields, and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers. It is the highest honour for volunteer services that an individual can receive within the Canadian Honours System.
I am beyond delighted to share with you that our tireless volunteers, Anita, Suzanne and Carlene were awarded this high honour in 2019 for their exceptional leadership and contributions to the Warm Hands Network since the group started over 12 years ago. The medal is intended to help shine a spotlight on extraordinary people who are working to build a better country - congratulations to these three amazing women who are doing their part to do so!

Between the three of them, they make sure the logistics of the network have been running for all these years, including connecting with and maintaining the relationships with our northern partners; working with our shipping sponsor airline Canadian North and getting our shipments to the airport; picking up your warm woollies from our amazing local yarn stores; doing outreach and promotion so that folks know about the network; running the website and blog; and so much more.

Anita received her medal at a ceremony in Ottawa this fall and when she told us about it, she was emphatic in saying that “it takes a village and WHN works because of the whole network of people who are involved”. But you know what? Sometimes the village needs movers and shakers, like these ladies, to really pull things together. So please join me in congratulating these three wonderful and amazing WHN leaders for being recognized with this important honour! Ladies, we already knew you were awesome, and we are glad the Governor General of Canada thinks so too!!!

Slipper Campaign 2019

Thank you to everyone who made slippers for our campaign to provide holiday gifts to the residents of Larga Baffin. Thanks to your efforts, over 110 slippers are going to Larga Baffin to bring some cheer to folks who are far from home during the holidays. Well done everyone, and thank you for your gifts to warm many feet, and many hearts as well! Here's what 100 slippers looks like!

Packages Received

We had a quick get-together at WHN World Headquarters on December 14 to organize your many generous contributions that have been coming in - thank you everyone for continuing to share the gifts of warmth from your needles and hooks.  This was not a Packing Night, more of an "Organizing Afternoon". We opened parcels and sorted them, to go through them properly in the New Year (and so that Anita could have her dining room back for the holidays, which seemed reasonable!).

We have received parcels from the following generous network members:
Anna from Morrisburg

Kathy in Montréal

L in Burlington

Janet in Fredericton

Olive in NB

Janet in Gravenhurst

Tracey in Vancouver

Lefebvre in Kamloops

Shirley in Hollister

J. Ann in Granby

JH in Creston

CH in Ottawa

Julie in New Liskeard

Sabrina in Mississauga

Wendy in Smoky Lake

Wet Coast Wools (see previous post!)

Wentheknitter

DouceAubergine

Beverly in Toronto

Nancy in Almonte

Helping Hands of Stirling

Bernice, Janet and Karen of Huntsville

Students of Carleton Place High School

Thank you all!!

A few pics from the afternoon, first of all a box of lovely warmth from Beverly in Toronto with a pretty note card for the Packing Team:

The boxes from Wet Coast Wools arrived in record time:

And these marvellous neckwarmers from Shirley in Hollister continue to inspire (look at the little houses! and the snowmen!).

You can expect to see more of the wonderful contents of the parcels you have sent us, after the next Packing Night (this was just a sneak preview!).

In closing, thank you all for continuing to share your skill and time, and the gift of warmth with northern children.  Wishing everyone a very happy winter holiday season and a joyous New Year!! We are excited to be a part of the network with you in 2020!!