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Welcome to SWAP
Scarves With A Purpose!
A "Tight-Knit" Community
Effort.
Knitting scarves for the homeless and
deserving.
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Interested in Knitting?
To volunteer to teach knitting
To learn how to knit
To volunteer to knit
To donate yarn
To donate scarves
To learn more about SWAP
Suggestions?
Scarves, and scarf-knitting and crocheting supplies, have
been graciously donated by people from:
Northbrook, IL; Santa Barbara, CA; Tampa Bay, FL;
Millegeville, GA ; Boston, MA; Deerfield, IL; New York, NY; Grand Rapids, MI;
Sacramento, CA; Chicago, IL; Gurnee, IL; Oreland, PA; Missouri; Barrington, IL;
Arlington Heights, IL; Del Ray Beach, FL; Decherd, TN; Maryland; Ft. Myers, FL;
Honolulu, Hawaii; Harvest, AL; Richmond, VA; Orland Park, IL; Grove City, OH;
Ann Arbor, MI; Durham, New Hampshire; Champaign, IL
... where next?!
Charities of Note:
Connections for
the Homeless -
Serving homeless adults and families and those threatened with
homelessness.
Housing
Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) -
Committed to improving the quality of life for Chicago’s low-income elderly.
A Safe
Place -
Providing shelter, court advocacy, referrals and comprehensive counseling
programs for victims of domestic violence - women and children.
PADS Crisis Services, Inc. -
A not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to Providing Advocacy, Dignity,
and Shelter to the homeless in Lake County, Illinois.
Official SWAP Branches:
- Northbrook Illinois
- Durham, New Hampshire
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Champaign, Illinois
... where next?!
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More than
scarves donated to date!
Knitted by hundreds of knitters in the
Chicagoland area,
and from around the United States, and
Canada!
Knit with other SWAP-ers, in person,
on the last Friday of each month!
Email for details. |
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The Story of SWAP |
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"My mom learned
to knit from her mom. She was always knitting like crazy, so one day in junior
high I asked her to teach me. Then I was knitting like crazy! We started making
scarves for family and friends as holiday gifts. After about six months of
keeping their necks warm, we realized that there were far more people out there
who really needed a hug around the neck - the homeless. We thought we should
knit some scarves for those who could use them in this cold Chicago weather. And
so it began.
"My friends
decided they wanted to learn how to knit, too. One thing led to another, and
here we are - everyone's HOOKED!!!!! I now hold monthly S.W.A.P. meetings where
all are welcome to knit all night long. Sometimes we have as many as 50 people
at one time! Every time a scarf is finished, we roll it up and attach a tag, box
it up, and off it goes to a homeless shelter. Sometimes we’ll go and knit at
another school or a nursing home. Sometimes we even cook and bring dinner to a
shelter in Evanston. Now with the web site, we receive yarn and scarves from
people far and wide - all working to help Scarves With A Purpose.
"Unfortunately,
my grandmother never got to see S.W.A.P. materialize. I know that she somehow
knows, though, and is smiling from above.
"I'd be
particularly pleased if you'd like to join us in making a difference. To learn
more, follow a link on the left side of the page."
- Melanie Hebeisen
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NEWS and NOTEWORTHY
by Jodi Hebeisen |
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January 2010:
October 2009:
- ANOTHER TWO NEW S.W.A.P. BRANCHES HAVE BEEN FORMED!
One at the University of Michigan, and another at the University
of Illinois. Yes, the girls are growing up and have started new clubs at
college! All scarves knitted will be donated locally.
- We are still getting interested knitters from
around the country -- BIG donations from Virginia, Chicago, New York,
Georgia, and as always, Florida! Thanks, ever so much.
- Under the heading of "Happy Birthday to YOU!" our
"oldest" knitter just turned 105 this year!
January 2009:
- A NEW BRANCH OF S.W.A.P. HAS BEEN FORMED! A
group of knitters in New Hampshire has decided to hand out scarves to
the homeless on their streets this month. It has been reported that 55
scarves have been completed and ready to go.
December 2008:
- 65 scarves were donated to the PADS Crisis
Center in Libertyville, Illinois.
- A group of retired ladies in Florida
who call themselves The Sunshine Knitters have sent about 65 to
date "to help keep our Northern friends warm".
November 2008:
- Roughly 50 Glenbrook North High School (Northbrook,
Illinois) students handed out 50 scarves to the homeless on the
streets of Chicago the day before Thanksgiving. It was the
first attempt of physically handing them out and proved to be very
successful.
August 2008:
- Close to 500 scarves were received by knitters
across the country and from the Friday night meetings and donated to
Connections for the Homeless. Dinner was also cooked and served at Hilda's
Place.
June 2008:
- 15 knitters go to Norwood Crossing to knit
with the elderly.
March 2008
- 76 more scarves are donated to Connections for the
Homeless.
January 2008
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I'm pleased to announce that the
scarves are continuing to roll in - men's scarves, women's scarves, wool
scarves, winter scarves, head scarves ... all sorts of shawls and wraps
and scarf-like knitting for the homeless and underserved. Another 200, in fact,
were recently added to the total - some from as far away as Alabama!
Thanks to everyone who's helping the cause.
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In other news, I'll be teaching basic
and advanced knitting at the house, again this year. So, if you want to learn
how to knit, increase your knitting skills, or just enjoy some fun storytelling
and conversation, all are welcome to join us, in person, on the last Friday of
each month! (Email
for details.)
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Too, I'm now also teaching knitting at
St. Norbert's Church, here in
Northbrook, Illinois, on the first Tuesday of each month.
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And, I just finished a class at
Glenbrook North High School for the HERO
(Home Economics Cooperative Education) class.
March 2007
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SWAP is alive and well.
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In fact, we've been receiving scarves
for the homeless via mail from some fabulous knitters in California,
Florida, and throughout the Chicagoland area - that's 100 more
scarves ready to be donated, courtesy of the winter's knitters! Thank you one
and all for knitting your Scarves with a Purpose!
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Too, this summer we'll be doing more
soup kitchen work and helping out at the shelter.
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Stay tuned, volunteers. And keep
knitting!
July 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
November 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
November 2003
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SWAP donates almost 130 scarves to A
Safe Place, a Chicago-area battered women's shelter and
PADS, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Waukegan, Illinois
that serves people throughout
Lake County, Illinois.
June 2003
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Each scarf
comes with a tag that reads:
"A group of crafters has been knitting
and crocheting scarves to let you know
someone out there cares about you.
Wrap this around your neck
and feel the love." |
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Knitting - it's not just
for grandmas anymore! |
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Founded in 2003 in loving memory of
"Cookie" |