afghans for Afghans

afghans for Afghans is a cool organization, here's what they posted on their yahoo email. That Yarn Store has a collection basket for afghans for Afghans if you're interested in donating.


We're making afghans (mittens, hats, socks, sweaters, and vests, too) ... for
Afghans! Join us!

afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people
project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to the
beleaguered
people of Afghanistan.

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Hello Knitters and Crocheters for Afghanistan,

** 5,000 Kids Campaign's Final Stretch! **

Many of you have already contributed beautiful, handmade blankets and wool
garments for our special campaign to clothe 5,000 Afghan girls and boys this
winter. Thank you very much for being generous and involved.

This is one last appeal as we enter the final stretch before our due date of
September 26.

Last week we did a rough count of the incoming contributions -- we are half-way
toward reaching the 5,000 mark. We thought we would be closer at this point. It
is unlikely that we will make the goal before we have to pack the container for
shipping overseas to Afghanistan.

What we are sending is all lovingly made, warm, and much needed in
Afghanistan. We can all feel good about that. Thank you for making this happen.

Might we get closer to our 5,000 goal? Possibly. Here are some steps you can
take today:

1. Knit or crochet a quick child's garment this week. Perhaps a hat or
mittens in a chunky wool yarn. So easy to mail one small item in an envelope to
us.

Our friend elann.com has rallied by putting this free pattern for a
worsted-weight Moriarty Hat on their website to encourage last-minute knitting
for
Afghanistan:
http://secure.elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=88024
You probably have your own favorite patterns that can be whipped up fast.

2. Ask a friend or a few friends to knit or crochet one wool garment for an
Afghan girl or boy. Tell them that their gift will mean one more warmer child
this winter. Perhaps give your friend a ball of wool to use. Offer to gather
the completed items and mail together in a flat-rate USPS Priority postage box.
Print out our flyer to show them:
http://www.afghansforafghans.org/afghansforAfghansflyer.pdf

3. Spread the word today through your blog, email lists and network, online
communities/bulletin boards, local yarn shop and guilds (their email lists if
they have one), house of worship, etc. If we each either directly ask one person

or publicize the opportunity to many using the power of the Internet in
particular -- we should be able to reach 1,000 *new* volunteers to make one
small
wool garment by September 26.

4. Forward this email message in its entirety to knitters and crocheters.

You probably have your own good ideas for this last-minute push. We are
grateful for your taking the initiative now. Many children in Afghanistan this
winter will be the beneficiaries of your efforts.

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Our next collection due date won't be until 2006. If you've been thinking
about participating, now is the time.

Blankets and garments received by September 26 will arrive in Afghanistan in
time for the harsh winter months.

We have about two more weeks to collect more wool hats, socks, mittens,
sweaters, and vests, as well as blankets, for children at orphanages, children's

centers, and clinics in Herat, Jalalabad, and Kabul.

For program details and mailing addresses, see our Guidelines page --
http://www.afghansforAfghans.org/blanket.html

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** Help Sort and Pack in San Francisco **

If you are in the Bay Area and would like to help sort and pack at our AFSC
Collection Center, please email us as soon as possible. We can always use more
energy and good company. More hands are needed to prepare this collection for
shipping at the end of the month. We are also looking for a donated volunteer
truck and driver to take the cartons to Burlingame for consolidating on to the
container.

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Thank you for all that you are doing. Thank you for taking action with your
own hands and heart to express your caring and friendship for the Afghan people.

Our best,
Ann and team at afghansforAfghans.org

PS: We love seeing the stories in your local papers ... here are a couple
recent articles for you to enjoy ...
From Sunnyvale, California --
http://www.sunnyvalesun.com/sv-news1.shtml
And, from Sun Valley, Idaho --
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?issue_date=08-26-2005&ID=2005104919