Category: updates

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It takes a village

Photo of 5 white plastic bags full of packaged scarves
114 scarves packaged and ready to share

Today we handed over 114 scarves that are packaged and ready to offer comfort. I said “handed off” instead of “delivered” because one of the awesome members of the YWCA staff came to pick them up from me. It was really helpful to have them picked up!

These scarves came from lots of people in several states. Some donate 1 or 2, while some need multiple grocery sacks to get all theirs to me. I really appreciate each person that has donated.

I’m thankful for our “village” that makes this project possible. Here are some of them:

  • People who crochet or knit scarves and deliver them.
  • People who mail scarves from other places.
  • People who help with the packaging.
  • People who help get the scarves to the staff so they can be distributed.
  • People who tell others about the project so new people can join. (There’s always space and need for more scarf makers)
  • Those who have shared yarn or money to buy yarn or packaging materials.
  • People who help make the website and the Facebook page work to share info

What an encouragement it has been to see so many people come together in an effort to offer some comfort to people at a really tough time.

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A Great Start!

I’m thankful for the ladies that have been busy crocheting over the last few months.

So much great work here!

This pile is 39 scarves ready to be delivered to the YWCA. It was just 4 volunteers who made them. They’re a beautiful variety of patterns and colors, ready to offer comfort to people at such a hard time.

As always, we’d love to have your help making scarves! Please join us if you can. We’re all working at home right now and then passing them off for packaging and delivery.

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Busy crocheting!

After a call from the YWCA requesting more scarves I got busy working on finishing up a few that I’d started months ago.

As you can see, we’re very flexible about the color and pattern of scarves that we receive and package for distribution. The width should be 5″- 8″ and length should be at least 65″.

If you can knit or crochet I hope you’ll join us. The supply is quite low and the need is approximately 45 scarves per month. Since we started in January of 2010 we’ve been able to provide enough scarves just in time for each survivor to receive one. We’ve had a few volunteers that have had to step away recently, so I’m really hoping that sharing this info will result in some new (or renewed) interest in joining us in this good work.

I’ll be glad to meet up with you to receive completed scarves, just send an email and we’ll work out the details.

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Scarves needed

The YWCA contacted us because they have distributed all the scarves we’ve delivered except for 10. We need help.

If you knit or crochet, or know someone who does, this is a great time to join us!

Though we haven’t been having group meetings in months due to covid concerns, we have continued to package and deliver scarves. Those have been so appreciated by the YWCA as their work supporting people has continued in spite of the pandemic.

Any color or pattern is great, we just ask that they are acrylic yarn and 5-8″ wide and at least 65″ long.

You can contact us to make arrangements to drop off any scarves that you create.

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New Year, New Pattern?

As we begin a new year it seems like a great time to try a new pattern. So, I thought I’d reach out and ask for you all to share ones you like.

You can send it by email, or post a link on our Facebook page.

If you happen to be looking for one and don’t know where to start, I’d encourage you to check out Yarnspirations, they have some great choices. There are lots of other great resources online, feel free to send those along as well.

Please keep in mind that just about any pattern is fine, we just need the scarves to be 5-8″ wide and at least 65 long.

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Scarves Needed!

photo of scarves

Do you have time to make one or or a few scarves?

I’m asking because one of our contacts at the YWCA reached out to me Friday to let me know that they are out of scarves. I have some here that should get them by for a bit, but it’s time to make more.

If you can knit or crochet, please join us in making scarves. Any pattern or color is fine, please use acrylic yarn and make them at least 5″ wide and 65″ long.

Completed scarves can be dropped off in the office at the Memorial Road church of Christ building in Edmond, or we can make individual arrangements.

Thank you for joining us in sharing comfort!

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It was good to get together

One of the best things about Threads of Compassion is the people! I love the encouragement that comes from working together. Having to cancel our meetings due to social distancing requirements has been a disappointment.

So, today it was great to get together online! There were just 6 of us, but it was great to see each other’s faces and get to share about what we’ve been doing. It was nice to realize that none of us is alone in not feeling super-productive even though we have some extra free time. Somehow it’s a relief to realize that others are just kind of barely making it at times too.

We don’t know yet what next month will look like, but we do know that for now, our work goes on, scarves are still being distributed at hospitals, and survivors are still being comforted by our work.

So, please, hang in there with us. Pick up your yarn and hook or needles as you can and let’s have some scarves ready to package when we can all get back together.

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Year One…

It’s amazing to look back and realize that Threads of Compassion OKC became a reality in 2010.

It went from me reading about it online in late December to contacting the OKC Rape Crisis Center, delivering 6 scarves in January to actually delivering 225 scarves by end of the year!

It’s hard to find words to share the impact this project has had on me, and on others. I’m so thankful that my husband encouraged me to go for it and that the YWCA staff was willing to give it a shot as well.

As I look back over the year, I see that 32 different people gave scarves (well, actually more than that because 1 of the 32 was a group, the Knit Wits). Many of these are people that I’ve never met – they heard about us on the news, or from friends, or other online resources. Some have been very experienced knitters/crocheters and others have just learned—including at least one who learned specifically to help with this project. So cool!

So many people have helped make this possible, and to each of them I want to say thank you! Here’s a brief list:

  • Those who have knitted/crocheted a scarf
  • Friends and family who gave gift cards, cash, yarn, and words of encouragement
  • The Memorial Road Church of Christ for allowing us to use their building
  • News Channel 4 for helping get the word out by interviewing us

2010 was a great start; I’m excited to see what 2011 will bring!