Posted on 11/12/2006 6:55:02 AM PST by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — July 25 marked the one year anniversary of Sewing and Knitting for the Troops, a local military support group started by June Kennedy, a Sierra Vista resident.
Kennedy sympathized with the plight of troops facing the brutal heat of summer and the sub-zero days of winter, both accompanied by relentless winds, in Iraq and Afghanistan. She realized soldiers faced an even greater risk to their lives when distracted from the mission at hand by such hardships. When she read about the need for neck cooler scarves and knitted helmet liners in a summer issue of the Sulpher Springs Valley Electric Cooperative magazine, she was excited because she knew she’d found a way to match her concerns for soldiers with her unique talents and skills.
Kennedy printed business cards and approached local businesses and individuals whom she knew shared her heart for the troops. She set up a record-keeping system to keep track of donations and purchases, volunteer hours and productivity. Then she conferred with the post commander about the types of colors and fabrics to meet uniform standards and began ordering the brown, black and olive 100 percent Andes extra-warm wool needed for the helmet liners and the magic polymer crystals, which would keep each scarf cool when soaked in water.
She bought tan and brown cotton and muslin fabric and thread for the scarves. She washed the bolts of fabric, got out the cutting board, set up the ironing board and assembled all the sewing tools needed.
Then she baked some enticing deserts and invited nine friends to her home on July 25, 2005, and Sewing and Knitting for the troops was born.
Kennedy’s labor of love attracted many other volunteers — knitters who would spend 10 hours on transforming the wool into one helmet liner during the week, many of whom would knit several liners each week. Every Monday with few exceptions, a crew of scarf makers would gather at Kennedy’s house, cutting and marking the fabric, sewing, trimming, turning the long tubes of fabric right side out, ironing, stuffing each with polymer crystals before the final sewing, counting, tagging and bagging. Each scarf and helmet liner bears a signed tag from one of those involved in the process, letting every recipient know that mothers, grandmothers, and friends in Sierra Vista care.
Sewing and Knitting for the Troops yielded 1,224 neck coolers and 185 helmet liners. Since then another 647 scarves and 488 liners have been finished. Where did all these go? Most have been given to soldiers deploying from Fort Huachuca’s 11th Signal Brigade, and some to the 101st Airborne Division Band. Others have been sent to the sons, grandsons, and friends of the volunteers and their companies. One of the most productive knitters, a retired teacher, has provided many more for the parents of her former students.
What are the future plans for Sewing and Knitting for the Troops? The goal is to keep making a difference to one soldier at a time, as long as that may take.
How can people help? Volunteers who sew or knit are always welcome, as well as those who can help with some of the other jobs involved with the production process.
Financial donations are also very welcome. Sewing and Knitting for the Troops is in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization, and would gladly accept help with anyone with expertise in this field.
Want to join?
June Kennedy will gladly help anyone else who would like to set up their own branch of Sewing and Knitting for the Troops for those who may want to work in another location. She may be contacted at 439-8172 or jdawn@cox.net or 1698 San Gabriel Ave., Sierra Vista AZ 85635.
Interesting
Bump.
90% of my fabric comes from Wal-Mart because of the great prices and they are the closet fabric source. BUT the quilters guild I belong to has learned that Wal-Mart is phasing out their fabric department. They have done away with them in some areas already. Wal-Mart is the ONLY source of fabric in my small town. It would mean a 20-30 minute drive to get to the next 2 sources of fabric. I'm a widow and on a fixed income so shopping at Wal-Mart for their prices and location is a must. Having to pay higher prices for fabric and gas will impact how many lap quilts I can do in a year for the VA hospital or for myself. I've done about 10 so far this year.
We are asking that people call 800 Wal-Mart and ask them NOT to discontinue the fabric departments.
I heard that same rumor about Walmart and their fabric department. From what I understand some stores will carry fabric and some will not. I'll make the call to Walmart.
I understand fully your dilema with Wal-Mart as Mrs. SR is a quilter too. Still somewhat of a novice at it but getting better with each one. Trips to Tucson (75 miles away) always involve stops at the major fabric stores there.
I appreciate all the help I can get to try and convince them not to discontinue this service. Our department is a busy one.
But I guess those big TV's are more profitable than a bread and butter item like fabric.
Gail, have you seen this?
http://www.petitiononline.com/savefab/petition.html
It needs it's own thread. Many FReepers craft, quilt and sew. Many are like me on fixed incomes.
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