Hawaii! And Burlington!!

Hi Everyone, we had a great Packing Night on Sept 6! Six of us were there at the new(ish) WHN World Headquarters, aka Anita’s house.

As you know, we have a shipping deadline of October 15 and this get together was to get a jump on packing and sorting what has been coming in over the summer. There were many (many!) generous boxes and packages of beautiful hand knits/crochets and it is so amazing to be able to see all the incredible warm items and the artistry and talent that goes into making them. Packages had been sent from as close as across town in Ottawa, and others that had journeyed from Japan and Hawaii! We truly are an amazing network! All the Packing Night crew just love seeing (and patting) the beautiful gifts from your needles and hooks.  We can’t thank you enough for all you do to share your time, your energy, and your generosity with Warm Hands.

At Packing Night, we have a system.  We open all the boxes and parcels that have been arriving since the previous Packing Night.  We do a quick check for quality and ensure that pairs are tied together so they don’t get separated in transit.  We lay the items out separately by each contributor, take photos, and write a description so we can match up the right photo with the right name.  We then sort the items. Lastly, they are placed into vaccum bags which are sealed and then the boxes are sealed, ready for shipping.  

We ended up this night with three boxes complete and a fourth mostly full, but waiting for a few more to be sealed for shipping.  We counted up all the items for the first time (usually we just weigh the boxes when they are shipped: we will continue to do that) and by the end of the night we had over 475 items!!!

This included: 

18 sweaters and vests 

131 hats including balaclavas 

96 Neckwarmers 

133 pairs of mittens 

8 slippers 

74 pairs of socks 

16 items in sets (8 sets of hat/mittens or hat/Neckwarmers)

The blankets had already been bagged ready for transporting to Larga Baffin so I didn’t count those but I think there were at least over half a dozen, and some sweet baby items as well.

We also had a good discussion over pizza and cake about options for potential new partners and campaigns. Early days yet of course, and will keep you informed as we explore what is possible.

One change for the blog format that we wanted to share with you: taking the photos of each individual parcel is the most time-consuming part of the evening and creates a big bottleneck for the packing process. This actually is a VERY good thing in a way – it really emphasizes that we have many generous knitters and crafters! However, now that so many people are sharing their project pictures on Ravelry and other social media – which were not as prominent when WHN first started over 10 years ago – we are going to move to another model.  After today, instead of taking individual pictures we will be taking “action shots” from Packing Nights so that you still get a flavour of the evening.  And we will still provide the first names and locations (or Ravelry names if applicable), so that folks know their packages arrived. 

And now, on to the  photos!

Jenn Sewell Hawaii

Rebecca (Ottawa) rav name isabellao

Anne Saint, Victoria Harbour, Ontario

Marley Grant, Burke VA

Jackie Lambert, West Richland WA

Jody Lacroix (Bettysgirl on Rav)

M Body, Val D'or QC

Wendy Genge Smoky Lake, AB (loved the brown sweater, Wendy!)

Catherine Hall, Burlington ON

Claire from Orleans

Group of Hamilton knitters led by Barb and dog guide Lilac

Lois Manton, Montreal, QC

Shirley Bablenco, Hollister, CA

Barbara Dreher (Japan) - obassan

Waterloo

Sandra in Nelson, BC

Sharon Lumsden from Illinois

Group blanket - Ravelry knitters

Kara Lefevre, Kagawong, Manitoulin Island

Beverley Stevens, Toronto

Barb, Spruce Grove

Edith, Stoneham, QC

bloocanoe (Catriona) from Ottawa

Helen Steiro (Invermere BC) Happy Hands group

Jan Parksville BC 

Beverly Stevens, Toronto

Jan Parksville BC

Tracey Burlington ON

Peggy (Dr Peg)

2019 and 2020 Teaser and as usual, we LOVE Canadian North!

So this is going to be a very short post but a sweet one, that I hope will tantalize all of you for the next year.  After a very quiet summer, we are starting to ramp up again and thinking about many interesting things (ok interesting for me anyway).

I know that you haven't seen much of my floors lately - since we transitioned leadership last year it was more of Suzanne's lovely carpeting you saw as we photographed your beautiful items.  I think you may be seeing more of my floors again so get ready to wince both at the glare and at my photography skills.  This year, Catriona and I will be taking on the role of co-Executive Director - the amazing and talented Suzanne is going to continue with WHN and take on some very special liaison roles - we are all so grateful to her for doing the ED job this past year - she is the best!  While I've always known that it takes a village to operate WHN (thanks Carlene (who has been with us since the beginning - insert heart emoji here), Suzanne, Rita, Claire, Jeanine, Rebecca, Catriona's, Janet, and so many more of you....), it also takes a village to lead - you'll be reading more from Catriona and hopefully see some new and improved pics!

We are planning a September 6th packing night slash planning night slash high caloric intake night.  We are going to brainstorm about ideas, including new ways to reach out to you, our lovely contributors, new contests, new distribution partners and locations for shipping and so much more.  Watch this space.

But right now, we do want to mention one critical deadline:  October 15th

We have been back in touch with Jimmy Hikok school.  Our plans are to ship again to them this fall.  We're looking for items for the JK to grade six size range.  Socks and mittens are a definite high point but we also love hats, sweaters, neckwarmers.  The reason I'm telling you about this is that we'd really like to be able to fill boxes to send up, so if you've got stuff you've been stock-piling for awhile, please do send it to us before October 15th.  In fact, the earlier the better.  I have been in touch with the truly wonderful Canadian North and they are sponsoring this shipment once again. 

We continue to send your blankets to Larga as well, so don't be shy!

As I type, I realize how much I've missed this.  Thanks for warming the hands of others, and also for warming my heart.

Talk soon.

Packing Night Update

March 22nd we had a packing night here at Warm Hands Network HQ. My apologies for the delay in providing this update, but I had a few time-sensitive projects arise, and I've been helping my daughter plan for her upcoming wedding in May.

 After some pizza and treats, we got to work unpacking and sorting many, many bags and boxes. Carlene brought a huge bunch of items that she had collected from contributors in the west end of Ottawa and further afield. I had several boxes here that had trickled in over the past couple of months. We hadn't had a packing night since June (!) due to weather, health, and schedules. It was a nice evening to catch up.

At present, I am awaiting notice from the pediatric physicians for their next trip up north, likely sometime later this spring. Many of the items below will be sent with them. Blankets and slippers are given to Larga Baffin, the local facility that houses Nunavut residents who come to Ottawa for medical treatments. I paid a couple of visits to them this winter with more fur coats, blankets, slippers, and knitting and sewing supplies. All the items are received with great enthusiasm and gratitude.

We know that all of you who contribute your beautiful hand-knitted and crocheted items want to know that they will get where they will be used. We do too! However, because we are dependent on reliable transportation to the communities we serve and a reliable source of distribution, sometimes there is a delay. For example, at present we have boxes awaiting the next trip up with the doctors some time this spring. You may have sent your items in February and they may not get up north until June. That is kind of the nature of how things work here at times, but be assured, your items do get up North, or are brought to Larga Baffin (in the case of blankets and slippers) where they are brought back up north by the recipients. 

We tried something new at packing night, taking photos on a phone. The lighting in my house can be a bit iffy, so my apologies if you find your items are not true to colour. A big thank-you to all who contributed over the past several months.

 A big pile of boxes and bags!!

From Catriona in Ottawa

From Rita in Ottawa

 From Andrea in Ottawa

          Claire and her blanket (There's a story here!)  

For a few years now Claire has been knitting garter stitch squares and giving them to her friend Carlene to seam together. 

This is Claire's first blanket that she knitted, seamed, and 

then crochet-edged -- all on her own. Way to go, Claire!

From Anna in Morrisburg

 From Mary in Almonte - 40 pairs of socks and a 

blanket made with sock yarn oddments

From Lois in Montreal

From Wendy in Alberta

From Wendy in Ottawa

 From Jackie in Washington State

From Bonnie in Nepean (Ottawa)

From Bonnie in Nepean (Ottawa)

 From Mary in Indiana

From the Kirby Knitters in Orono, Ontario

From Rebecca in Ottawa

 From Jeannine in Ottawa

 From Julie in Ottawa

From Pat in Consecon, Ontario

A winter update

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)