Inactive For Summer

Just to update the status of S.P.E.W. This HSKS activity is inactive for the summer of '09. We will once again begin taking donations during the fall term. If you have time and would like to knit a hat or two now, why not? Then you'll be ahead of the game for the fall term. Keep checking this space for more information.

Time to send!

It's time to send your SPEW stuff!

contact me at clidonia.acromantula@gmail.com for instructions on where to send your US based stuff!

can'tw ait to see it!

Thank You from Bonnie Babies

The following is a transcript of an email I have received from Bonnie Babies regarding the hats we knitted last term:

THANK YOU FROM BONNIE BABIES

Dear Ann & members of the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap

Thank you very much for the parcel of beautiful knitted hats you recently sent to BONNIE BABIES, I loved all the bright colours, the hats are perfect and have already been added to a couple of our many boxes that go out around the UK.

All your hats will be added to our total items sent so will of course be part of our years totals which I think this year are going to be amazing

Thank you for finding BONNIE BABIES and offering your help your all stars

Your support for BONNIE BABIES is very much appreciated

Kindest Regards
Debby
founder bonnie babies
www.bonniebabies.co.uk

New Term equals New SPEW!

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back to Hogwarts!

I'm so glad to be the SPEW director this time around.

The first thing we need to do is talk charities. I have a few in mind for the US, but I need to hear from the international participants as to what they'd like.

So, for the US, there are a few choices, and I'd love to hear what your thoughts are and which one we should choose...

1. Children's Hospital of Orange County-Santa Ana, CA
2. Albany Medical Center Children's Hospital-Albany, NY (this one is specifically requesting preemie hats and blankies...)
3. Jimmy fund and Caps for Kids-Boston, MA

so, if we could pick one of those...and I am very partial to one...but I'm leaving it open...
Post a response, and majority rules!

But just an aside here-
I want to let all of you know from personal experience-these items are the best things ever. You really feel loved and cared for when your child or you recieves one. My son recieved a blanket, hat and vest when he was in NICU, and it was the most welcome thing. It gave us a sense of normalcy in a very roller coaster ride.

So, know that any one of these charities that we pick is going to be thrilled, and patients are going to feel loved.

Yarns for Bonnie Babies

A swapper asked if there are any no-go yarns for items for the UK/European charity 'Bonnie Babies'. Their response is simply 'no mohair type yarns'. I think this is because mohair moults and therefore presents a choking hazard. They accept and use items made from any other yarns.
They are looking specifically for donations of any baby clothes in very small and preemie sizes, baby blankets (at least 18" square), and hats, etc...

Anyone who is interested in donating items other than knits may like to visit the website (linked in the sidebar here) where details are given of what they are looking for as well as the knits we are hoping to provide. E.g. they accept donations of raw materials for knitting and sewing baby items. This includes ribbons, buttons, yarn, and wedding dresses (which provide good fabrics for burial gowns - sadly much-needed items).

U.S. Charity: The Jimmy Fund

History
The Jimmy Fund started in 1948 when the Variety Club of New England (now the Variety Children's Charity of New England) and the Boston Braves baseball team joined forces to help a 12-year-old cancer patient dubbed "Jimmy." On a national radio broadcast, millions heard the boy visit with his heroes from the Braves as they stood by his hospital bed. Contributions poured in from people everywhere, launching an effort that continues to bring hope to thousands of children and adults facing cancer throughout the world.

The Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a place where children and their families find hope. For people in New England and around the globe, the Jimmy Fund Clinic is one of the world's premier centers for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Starting in the 1940s, when Institute founder Sidney Farber, M.D. used drug therapy to achieve the first-ever remissions of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Dana-Farber researchers have made strides against virtually every type of cancer that strikes children, from solid tumors that involve individual organs to those that affect blood or lymph.

The clinic is also a place where vintage Disney paintings adorn the walls, the waiting rooms are playrooms, and caring doctors and nurses provide expert and compassionate care for children with cancer.
Designed specifically for the comfort and convenience of pediatric cancer patients and their families, the Jimmy Fund Clinic follows Farber's "total patient care" philosophy, assuring that a patient's psychological, family and spiritual needs, as well as their medical needs, are met.
Through a unique and long-standing collaboration, Jimmy Fund Clinic patients receive inpatient care when needed at nearby Children's Hospital Boston, the nation's premier pediatric medical center.

The above information taken from jimmyfund.org

In addition, any hats, that can not be used by the Jimmy Fund Clinic will go directly to another charity of the Jimmy Fund/Dana-Farber called Caps for Kids. CAPS FOR KIDS is a non-profit, 100% volunteer organization that began in 1984 with hand made hats that were donated to local agencies for needy children. Since then tens of thousands of hats have been donated nationally each year. They have donated 21,000+ hats to local children in Boston, including more than 5000 hats in ’07. These hats have been made by friends and employees of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and are distributed each December to day care centers, elementary schools, housing shelters for families, organizations for homeless children, and neighborhood health and community centers in Boston. Children who receive Caps for Kids range mostly from preemies through elementary school age, although we also include hats for children up through 17 yrs old in their contributions to homeless organizations.

Welcome!

Welcome to S.P.E.W. "Society for the Production of Excellent Wearables". I'm glad you could stop by and take a look. As you can see, we're still in the planning phase of this club, but check back soon for information on what we're doing and how you can participate. (Think hats for charity!)