Jefferson County Standley Lake Library’s Yarn and Needle Arts Group invites the community to join in a Caring Community Challenge to assist Family Tree by contributing items for those in need of warm items this winter. People can participate by making or donating completed, handmade items such as knitted, crocheted or sewn mittens, hats, scarves, small animals and blankets for all ages. The library has free patterns available for people to take, or they are welcome to use their own. New purchased items are also welcome.
Items should be placed in a plastic bag labeled with the appropriate target age and dropped off at the Standley Lake Library from October 1 – November 7. Family Tree will do a ceremonial pickup of collected items on Thursday, November 7, during the Yarn and Needle Arts group’s monthly meeting at Standley Lake Library.
Family Tree is a Wheat Ridge-based non-profit incorporated in 1976 that provides innovative and life-changing services designed to end homelessness, domestic violence and child abuse. Yarn and Needle Arts coordinator Neila Achter says, “I have known about Family Tree and the good work they do for years. I know that Family Tree has a good reputation and will use the items where most needed.”
According to Family Tree Development Coordinator Tami Mawhir, “We are always in need of hats, scarves and gloves, especially for men and teen males. There is also a need for baby blankets.” Very soft and warm yarn or fleece and flannel are suggested for baby and children items.
“The library’s Yarn and Needle Art’s group is so happy to be partnering with Family Tree,” Achter says. “We look forward to promoting and fulfilling this community need. We appreciate the library for being a vehicle to make it happen, and we appreciate the members of the public who join us in this effort. This is something our group really enjoys and finds rewarding so we hope other groups might join us in this effort.”
Standley Lake Library’s Yarn and Needle Arts group began in 2014 and meets on the first Thursday of each month from 5:30 – 8 PM. The informal group is comprised of all skill levels and works under the guidance of Achter. This is the group's third year of completing community challenge events. In 2018, together with the public, the group created 1275 items for the Arvada Fire District. In 2017, they knit baby items for Warm Hearts, warm Babies, an Arvada-based charity. And in 2016, they contributed 175 chemo caps to the rocky Mountain Cancer Center.
