More details for WUA

New details for Warm Up America Kick Off!!

With so many blocks donated and the weather taking a turn for the worse with Hurricane Sandy on her way, we are having a joining party November 11 from 1 - 4 pm.  Yes this is a Sunday.  Yes this is Veteran's Day.  Please consider honoring a vet by helping with this endeavor.  

Blocks can be in any color you like.  Darker colors will tend to hide more of the wear and tear life can hand them as opposed to white or light colors.  Please do use washable fibers like acrylic.  Wool, while warmer, can be difficult for some to launder and not turn into a potholder.  Please do not use cotton, linen or bamboo for blocks.  Washable wool and acrylic don't hold the water like these plant fibers do.  Wool especially can be very warm while wet.  Acrylic less so.  Wet plant fibers just make people feel cold.  However, these fibers can be used to create facecloths for washing with.  Choose smooth patterns for this.

Joining yarns and hooks or needles will be available for use in the store for these afghans.  We will be using mainly the slip stitch method and single crochet method for joining.  Sewing the blocks together can be done but will take longer.  

Solid patterns for the blocks are encouraged since they are warmer than lacy patterns.  The gauge suggested is 5 stitches to the inch, tight enough to be warm but not so tight as to be stiff and armor like.  Garter stitch and stockinette stitch are quick to knit patterns.  Half double crochet and double crochet are quick to crochet and simple enough for most people.  Offset shells are also a nice pattern with enough variation to keep boredom at bay.

For more information, please check out www.warmupamerica.org  
There are more patterns available as well as a history of this charity.

All donations will stay local.  Our donation point will be www.lebanonrescuemission.org as this is the local homeless shelter for men.  Women and children find shelter at Agape House.  While their main function is to help those battling addictions, they do have beds available to those in need.  

My manager has also suggested a canned good drive to benefit the local food pantry.  Donations can be dropped off in the same red box in the classroom.  Our donations for this will benefit www.lccm.us (Lebanon County Christian Ministries).  LCCM hosts the daily noon meal which serves about 300 people a day, including those in the Meals on Wheels program.  For some this is the only meal they get.   

The donation box remains up year round.  These blocks can be done in the heat of summer without the burden of a large article in your lap.  Any foods that show up will be taken to LCCM.  They see an increase in meals over the summer when kids are home from school.