On Saturday while out and about running errands just about every intersection was an example of community in action. It was the annual Misericordia/Jelly Belly Candy Days drive – where many volunteers were out collecting donations to support a local community that supports those with special needs. As I drove around the city and up in the northern suburbs, car after car after car after car had a red “I Helped” tag on the mirror or dashboard.
Our book club book this month focused on community as well – Better Off by Eric Brende was his memoir of the 18 months he & his wife spent living within an Anabaptist community. While his focus was giving up technology, the community was an integral part of being able to live with less. This week there was a crash on the Indiana tollway killed several people – including a couple of members of the Amish community. One of the articles I read about the crash showed community in action – as soon as word spread through the community a neighbor arrived to help milk cows, women showed up with food and everyone gathered around a grieving family.
The blog world, especially the knitblog world, is a community of sorts – with many virtual connections. Since starting to blog I have enjoyed participating in a community that comforts by knitting squares for assorted blanket projects. When I saw the Yarn Harlot earlier this month, in addition to her humorous stories I was touched by the details about how Knitters Without Borders has raised over $320,000 in some extremely short timeframes.
In the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, Mosaic Yarn in Blacksburg has launch Hokie Healing with the goal of providing knit blankets to the families of the victims and those injured. Through May they are collecting 8″ x 8″ squares in the Hokie colors – orange and maroon. Phyl has a great post offering suggestions for colors and themes. Over 2000 squares are needed to make these blankets come together. (Thanks Robin for posting about this earlier & making me aware of the need!)
One of my errands on Saturday was a trip to The Village Knit Whiz to pick up some Hokie color yarns – I came home with 2 beautiful skeins of Araucania Yarns Nature Wool Chunky (colors 104 & 108) yarn and plan to keep knitting squares until the yarn runs out. I don’t know anyone at Virgina Tech; however, when I was in college I was a part of a solar race car team. In June 1994 we were in Indianapolis for a prep/information weekend & I remember the VT team there showing their Hokie pride when it was time to introduce their car name and number. In the spirit of “We are all Hokies” my weekend knitting has been orange & maroon – so far a “Grandma’s Favorite” square & a “Bejeweled” square.
How have you seen community in action recently?
April 29, 2007 at 6:44 pm
You are wonderful for thinking of us.
Thank You,
Gina
April 29, 2007 at 8:21 pm
yay! thanks for joing us Blacksburg knitters in helping to heal and for asking others to do so also!
April 29, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I’m adding this afghan project to my list of MUST DO things! Thanks so much for the links Amy. š
April 30, 2007 at 8:10 am
I’m Mennonite and grew up in an Amish area (the community involved in that Toll Road accident in fact), and nobody does community better than the Amish. It underlies everything they do. I’ll have to get some Hokie-color yarn. I’m sure the project will bring some measure of comfort to the families.
April 30, 2007 at 9:37 am
I’ll have to try and get something together for these squares. I think a big community involvement is important. A neighbor of mine passed away Friday and it was wonderful to see the community come together to provide food and comfort for the family.
April 30, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Thank you for posting about this; I hope the organizers get a great response! I wish I could join you, but I am having to pack up and (hopefully) get ready to move soon. I did contribute squares for the blanket for Sonya’s husband, and for Julie’s friend Betty over at Noolie Knits.
You asked about community — my husband Chris and I have been meeting an amazing group of people through GYGIG. We went on a training ride with them on Saturday, and they are funny and supportive and so caring. We’re really looking forward to the real ride in June.
April 30, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Wow those are some great things! I’m going to have to check mys tash for some squares for the Virginia Tech. But first have to finish the Blanket of HOpe. I’ll go checko ut deadlines. Thanks for bringing us the information.
May 3, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Community outreach is a great thing and it’s been really great going beyond my local borders with the knit bloggers.
The Hokies! I picked up some yarn but hadn’t figured out a pattern either. And dang it, that’s the part of my dropped post I completely forgot.
May 19, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Consider yourself “tagged”. You have to go to my blog to get the rules (that’s one of the rules). (
This is really just a devious attempt to get you to give us an update on life, the universe and everything.