The Innu children in Northern Labrador will soon be warmer thanks to the efforts of our wonderful volunteer knitters and crocheters — and the tremendous distribution efforts of the Warm Hands Network, based in Ottawa, Canada, and The Next Generation Guardians. The Next Generation Guardians is a group of Innu women in Northern Labrador who distribute these warm woolen items in their community.

Thank you!

Wool-Aid is launching a new campaign – a Tribute to Warm Woolies and Kimberly Turnbow to knit warm and wooly socks that will be sent to Mittens for Akkol for their annual Sock Challenge. Mittens for Akkol serves children in orphanages in Kazakhstan, where it is often 40 degrees below zero in mid-winter.

Let’s show our appreciation for Warm Woolies’ mission and for all that it has done for children since it began in 2003. This is a great opportunity for you to knit the pattern for children’s socks designed by Kimberly for Warm Woolies and know that the socks will benefit children who really need them!

This campaign will wrap up on April 30, 2010, giving you time to knit socks for this Tribute campaign in and around your knitting for our upcoming campaigns.

All socks are to be sent to Wool-Aid, where they will be sorted and boxed to send to Mittens for Akkol in a single shipment. (You can send socks for this Tribute campaign together with items for other campaigns – just be sure to mark clearly what you want to go where.)

Guidelines for Sock Knitters for this campaign:

• Wool (at least 80% wool/animal fiber)
• Worsted weight yarn or worsted stranded with sock yarn or worsted weight doubled or bulky yarn
• Sock length at least 7 inches (heel to toe)
• Sock height at least 8 inches (top of cuff to base of heel) (or a minimum of 6 inches above the heel flap or equal to foot length — please meet any of these requirements).
• Children are ages 3 to 16, and the greatest need is for the older children, sizes 8 to adult.
• More socks are needed in a 9-inch length than any other size.
• Please tie socks of a pair together, with a bow at the top of the cuff, before sending.

You may use any pattern that you enjoy knitting, as long as the finished socks meet the guidelines above.

You can find out more about Mittens for Akkol on their website, at their active Yahoo! group, and in their Ravelry group. Mittens for Akkol focuses on socks for all of the children in the orphanages served, as well as on gifts for those who are graduating from the orphanage because of “aging out.” We hope to sponsor multiple campaigns for Mittens for Akkol this year, each one focused on a specific project, to help fill needs that they have identified.

This Warm Hands campaign is for wool sweaters, vests, and worsted weight socks for children ages 7 through 15, as well as wool baby blankets.

Items are destined for the 400 children in the Innu community in Northern Labrador and will be delivered through the Warm Hands Network. These children live in a very isolated area and are often forgotten. Let’s make sure that they know we are not forgetting them!

Within the community, items are distributed through The Next Generation Guardians – a group of Innu women in Northern Labrador working to help the next generation learn life skills and preserve and protect their Innu language and culture, in a community.

Wanted: Wool socks, sweaters, and vests, as well as baby blankets

Deadline: January 31, 2010

Mail items to Wool-Aid, and note that the items are for the Warm Hands campaign. If you are able, a contribution toward final shipping to Warm Hands would be appreciated.

The greatest clothing need is for wool socks, sweaters, and vests. There is a particular need for items for children aged 7 to 15.

Wool baby blankets are also needed and will be distributed to new mothers at the clinic there. Please make them about 40” x 40”.

Guidelines specific to this Warm Hands campaign

• Knit or crochet your favorite patterns or try something new.
• Avoid white or very light colors. Feel free to mix a bright and cheery palette from your yarn collection!
• Remember, warmth is very important – Labrador has very cold winters. Hats need to cover ears, sleeves need to go the wrist, and torsos need to be long.
• Please match socks and tie them together with a bow at the cuff.
• Please use 100% wool or a wool blend (at least 80% wool content). Items will not be washed in warm water in a washing machine.