Click the link below! A few AmeriCorps faces are seen unloading scarves :)
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-jan2809-scarves.106cb8d2.html
Special Olympics trading scarves for donation
BOISE - The Special Olympics World Winter Games put out a nationwide call nearly one year ago for scarves.
They wanted all the athletes and coaches to have one when they came to Idaho.
Organizers were inundated – receiving more scarves than they expected – or needed.
They received so many scarves they have decided to make these available to the public - what they ask in return is a donation.
"They come in boxes of 10, 20 - 100 at the same time," said Chip Fisher, World Winter Games Chairman.
Special Olympics World Winter Games organizers had hoped to gather about 2,500 scarves for the athletes, but word spread quickly across the knitting community.
"They just started coming in from everywhere - across the nation and 10 different countries," Special Olympics marketing VP Heather Hill said.
As of now, they have received 55,000 blue and white knitted scarves.
So organizers have decided to offer the extra scarves to the community and ask for a donation in return.
Organizers are sensitive to concern that those who made the scarves might be upset they are being sold instead of ending up around the neck of a deserving athlete.
"It’s really going to the athlete's experience,” Fisher said. “If you really listen to these athletes they want to be part of a community and with these scarves we can show them that they are part of us.”
Moxie Java is one business where you can pick up some of these scarves.
"Today we received about five different donations for the scarves,” Lauren Powers with Moxie Java said. “We have seen everything from $5 up to $20.”
Fisher says even if fundraising from the scarves surpasses what they need for the games - the money will stay in our community.
"If you give for a scarf and we have money left over that money will stay in Idaho and will continue to support people with disabilities," he said.
You can pick up these scarves at certain Washington Trust Banks, Costco, Walmart and Moxie Java locations.
Fisher says he wouldn't be surprised if the scarves become a tradition at World Winter Games in years to come.
1 comment:
matticaHey, Blue Four. I watched the Z Idaho newscast and caught a couple of AmeriCorps patches. Keep up the good work, and good luck when the games begin.
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