Extras in the Scarf Packages: Your Questions Answered

Several people have asked about what else to send with their completed scarves. First off, attach a small tag or a wrapper such as Melissa's wrappers, available here, saying "Knitted/Crocheted for you by (your first name)." You can add your city or state if you wish. And attach a small tag with washing instructions. There are care tags in Melissa's blog, as well, or you can just write it on a small hang-tag.

If you want to be thanked or have your scarf acknowledged by the OFA (you won't be thanked by the recipient, because you will not be identified to the recipient other than by first name and/or city/state, as mentioned above), please include a stamped self-addressed envelope, which will help the volunteers tremendously. 

It's not absolutely necessary to include anything else, but it is encouraged and will be very much appreciated. The anything else can include a check to the OFA to be added to the Red Scarf Fund, or a gift card to any national chain. Appropriate cards are to department stores, discount stores, food chains, music cards, bookstores, office supply stores, drug store chains, stamps -- you name it.  

Way back when I met the first two OFA students I ever met (the ones in the photo with me the other day), they told me things that opened my eyes to all the good deeds that the OFA does -- things like one of the girls once had a flat tire on her way to school, and the OFA helped her out. Things like, "I didn't have enough money to pay to get my glasses fixed. I called my caseworker at the OFA and she made sure I had it." 

Not long ago, through a rather funny chain of events regarding the starting up of a new Red Scarf Group in Ravelry, I became quite well acquainted with Angie, one of the OFA employees who started that group not realizing that we knitters had already started a group with the same name and with the same mission. She works in a different office of the OFA than the one I am connected with (in a different state), and much to my surprise, she had no idea about us! She started the group as a part of her work efforts to increase exposure for the OFA on the web, and was stunned when she found out that our other group was 400-odd members strong, and asked Lynn, "How do all these people know about us?"

Anyway, Angie explained to me that she never dreamed anyone else even knew about them, and so when the Ravelry prompt came up, "Check to see if there is another group with the same name," she didn't click it. She talked about that 5th-grade assignment (for me it was in 9th grade, but I'm old) where the first instruction is to read the entire test before proceeding. Then the final words on the page are something to the effect of, "Only do questions 1 and 2 of the test and then put down your pencil," and yes, Angie said, SHE was the one who, in that instance, got it right (as was I), but here she was starting up a group in Ravelry and didn't read the full instructions. We had a good laugh about it.  

So explains why there are two groups with the same name and same mission in Ravelry, but in the meantime she told me a bit of her story, and has given me permission to print it here. I think this is helpful in giving you ideas about what sorts of gift cards or items to include with the scarves if you are so inclined and able:

I’m a former foster kid myself, a former OFA student in fact. I love it when people are protective of me! ….. the Red Scarf Fund is a huge part of why I want to expand our efforts! Before I was the program analyst for OFA, I was the ETV coordinator for two of our states, meaning I worked directly with our students. There were so many situations my students experienced that we could not give funding for. It was absolutely heart wrenching!!! But being able to go to our other staff and ask for gift cards to help a student get diapers for their kid, get groceries, replace stolen books, buy a new tire for their car, get gas to make it to classes…it all helped so much, just having one more option! My kids got through some very tough financial times because of those gift cards. It allowed them to make it to finals, pay their gas bill and not worry about how they were going to get diapers, buy a nice outfit for their first job interview, get a cavity taken care of, etc. It made a huge difference in their lives and my own!…because of the kindness of these knitters, we were able to make dismal situations manageable for so many. I was able to give another option instead of just chatting with them about budgeting better next time. And even more important, each and every student who we were able to help with those gift cards felt supported by us, supported in a way they often hadn’t experienced before. And tears of frustration and hopelessness turned into tears of relief and joy.

After reading this and remembering the things I was told by the two young women I met early on in New Hampshire, and the several students I met in Georgetown two summers ago, some things that I'd never thought of became evident. For example, having that Subway sandwich card for his lunch or dinner might allow a young man to have a few dollars to buy a tie to wear to an interview, or being able to buy printer paper at Staples with a gift card that one of us sent might free up the funds for a student to get a new pair of gloves or replace a bra that just got ripped in the washing machine, or maybe even to buy yarn to be able to knit or crochet herself a hat to go with her new scarf.  

Excuse me. I need to go get a hanky.

The red brick heather basketweave scarf in progress is now 21 inches long. I love this thing.

Comments

[sandy]

Life is so tough for some kids. The least we can do is knit a scarf and get a gift card, eh? Perhaps I'll badger my kids and adopt this as our Christmas giving project this year! xo

[Jennifer]

What a lovely, lovely post. Thanks for all you do to promote such a worthy cause.

[Geri]

Sometimes we forget that kids need support even when they get older. I think that is what really appeals to me about this project.

[gayle]

It's so good that these kids have OFA for a safety net, since they don't have family to help them out. Life is so tough when you have NO ONE to turn to.
Thank you, Norma, for all you do.

[Ann]

Just finished my 3 hats for the Chittenden County Mitten tree. Now off to start my scarf. Hope it flies of the needles as fast as the hats. Going with your idea of basketweave pattern.But with a twist. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Sharon]

Hankie?? I need a whole box of Kleenex after reading your post!! Thank you for all you do for this wonderful organization. My goal in 2010 is to become a mentor to one of the students. It's time to share a part of me to help someone else.

[Joannah]

My plans for today:
1) knit, knit, knit, knit.
2) knit, knit, knit, knit.
3) stop by Staples to get a gift card to go with each scarf.
4) knit, knit, knit, knit.

[Bev]

I'm so glad to be helping out!

[marianne]

oh sure, squeeze a few more tears out of this COB will ya? Yes, you did. Thanks for all the ideas, will do.

[Mary Fran]

I take so much for granted, and I know I took it ALL for granted when I was in college. Off to discuss a further donation with my husband, as we've stayed well below our budget for Christmas.

[Carole]

Norma! I'm all verklempt.

[Gerri]

Thanks for the post and I'm glad my hankie was handy. It is very good to see the whole scope of the support offered. Reminds me of a few financial crunch times when my Dad somehow knew and slipped me $20, which even back then wasn't that much money but was a whole pot of gold for a young person starting out.

[Kym]

When I think of the support my own daughter has in college -- from me and Tom, the rest of our family, old friends, our church, etc.-- it makes me really wonder how kids make it WITHOUT that kind of safety net! This project is about so much more than the scarves! :-)

[Beverly]

Crap. I'm tearing up and am supposed to see students in a few minutes. I'm heading to Staples and B&N tomorrow for gift cards. I will knit like a fiend.

[Seanna Lea]

I've been getting gift cards to go with each scarf with just this idea in mind, though the iTunes gift cards are more for fun and less about saving them money in one aspect of their life so they can afford to do something in another.

My first interview outfits were abyssmal. I can easily imagine the effort these people have to go through to get something passable to get the job they want or need.

[Lucia]

OK, OK! I'll admit I never bought gift cards to go with my scarves before, but now I will.

[Elaine]

Now how am I supposed to eat my lunch when I'm blubbering? Oh, yeah, it's not all about me, is it? Off to Staples.....

[Marilla]

Thanks a lot, Norma. I really didn't need to start crying right now. But I am very grateful that you are spreading the word about this wonderful organization and the awesome young people who are being helped.

I'll keep on knitting. I figure if I don't get my Christmas knitting for my kids done, it will still be cold the week after Christmas. And I will also be buying gift cards-something of a challenge where I live, but I'm up for it.

[Polly]

You are truly a blessing!! Thank you for this inspiring message. After this season's scarves have been mailed out,will this be the same project we can work on for next year? Or are there other projects during the year ?

[Cookie]

Wonderful post.

xo

[elizabeth a airhart]

lil ole pudding pie proudly

supports the red scarf project

my alpha sent a box she knits

we adopted puppies do best we can

i use the computer she can't