Staff
The Canadian Red Cross is asking Rainy River District residents for donations of yarn to be used to make toques and mitts for local children in need, as well as for knitters who might be interested in offering their skills.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have yarn and wool donated in the past, and now we are out of stock,” noted Keri Rafter, disaster management co-ordinator with the Red Cross for Dryden and district, which also includes Kenora and the Fort Frances area.
She explained the “Winter Warmth” program provides toques and mitts to children at schools in Rainy River District, as well as other communities throughout the region.
“We put out a request to all the schools, seeing who needs what as far as hats and mitts,” she said.
Rafter added they do have some local knitters but if there are others willing to knit toques and mitts for the program, they certainly would be grateful.
“We’re really trying to branch out in Fort Frances as far as our services,” she remarked.
“So if there is a knitter who has a donation of mittens or hats, we could definitely make arrangements to pick those up.”
Davetta Sheppard of Fort Frances, who does plenty of work for the Canadian Red Cross, also is willing to pick up donations locally.
“There is a real need for
children to have toques and mitts to stay warm in the winter,” she stressed, noting the Red Cross contacted Knox United Church here seeking donations.
“I’m prepared to do anything I can to help,” Sheppard added.
“It’s a great service that we are able to provide children who need those extra little things,” Rafter reasoned.
“There are kids who don’t necessarily have those supplies, and the teachers and principals are able to identify that and put in their request for how many toques or mittens they need.
“Even though we are in Dryden, we are branching out to Fort Frances, so the more services we can provide there, the better it is for the community,” she added.
For more information about donating to the “Winter Warmth” program, call Rafter at 1-888-277-9089 or Sheppard at 274-4997.
