Knitters’ call to action

After the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Linda Daniels of Northampton Wools was in contact with the Urth Yarn family, based in Turkey. While none of the Urth Yarn family was directly hurt, almost everyone knew of someone affected. In response, Northampton Wools joined with the Northampton Volkswagen people by collecting hats, mittens, scarves, baby blankets that Northampton VW has sent along with their shipment of much-needed goods. As Linda noted, “Imagine having everything you own gone in an instant. The very least we can do is make something warm for people to wear through the rest of the winter.”

While knitters from all over western Massachusetts responded to this call to action, the knitters from the Greenfield Senior Center and other knitters from Franklin County also got out their yarn and needles and went immediately to work, donating around 125 items.

When the knitting shipment is delivered in Turkey, the items will bring warmth that is more than just the yarn — it is the caring and the concern and the goodwill that is included with each knit and purl. This particular knitting drive is now most successfully closed. But there is not doubt that knitters will get to work again when needed.

Marianne Snow

Greenfield