I'm so grateful to tell you about a project that a dear friend of mine has just announced. Nest: Bringing Warmth Home "seeks to connect knitters and other fiber enthusiasts with people in need of warm items for the coming winter. We plan to distribute new donated hats, mittens, fingerless mitts, cowls and scarves in the Ft. Kent {Maine} area by mid-September."
As we celebrate the beauty of our vastly changing seasons here, also present in my mind are the harsh realities that such seasonal changes bring. For nearly everyone here that I know, this winter will be a challenge to prepare for with the rising cost of home heating oil. The challenge is an inconvenience to some, and a serious crisis to others. Particularly to many just a bit north of me - in an area so heavily hit by flooding this spring, in climates considerably colder, in homes perhaps less (or not at all) insulated. (added: some more news about the winter situation just today.) The reality of the crisis can be overwhelming in thought, but as Jean wrote so eloquently on the Nest blog, "although the long term solution to the energy problem is complicated, providing warm woolen items to people in need is not."
Sometimes it's so easy to get pulled under by the sadness and hardship around us in the world. I can't solve the global oil crisis. But I can make choices for my family that I think contribute to a better world. And, thanks to the organization of a warm-hearted soul, I can knit some hats that just might end up on the right person's head this winter - someone who might need a little bit of extra warmth in their home on a cold day. And so I'll knit.
If you're interested in knitting for Nest, head on over to the blog for all the details you need. The deadline for knitted items is September 1st.
