Aren’t you excited? The summer is so close we can literally start to feel it! It’s teasing us…popping up here and there just for a day or two. Just enough to leave us wanting more. Soon it will be here for good, and I don’t know about you, but personally, I can’t wait to bask in the glow of the warm sun, maybe head to the beach…summer can not come soon enough!
The other great thing about summer? Getting new clothes. It’s the perfect excuse to head out for a few cute t-shirts and tanks, and don’t forget a few new pair of flip-flops, my favorite summer accessory. This year, I’m asking you to take one extra step. Bring those new clothes home, and clear some space for them in your closet by purging a few of your old sweaters that you know you won’t be wearing when the bitter cold unfortunately comes back around again. Now is a great time for spring cleaning, and by donating your old sweaters to this year’s sweater drive, not only will you be making room for your new cute summer wardrobe, but you’ll be helping warm the hands of those in need this winter.
For those of you that are unfamiliar with my yearly sweater drive, it’s very simple. I collect sweaters during the spring and summer. In the fall, I sew them into mittens that are then donated to homeless shelters. (If you’re a die-hard Martha fan, like I am, you may have seen this project on her show. I saw the segment, played around with a few sweaters of my own, fell in love with my new mittens, and somehow got the idea in my head that I wanted to make a lot of them!) Last year, sweaters were donated from states from coast to coast, and we were able to give over 100 pair of mittens to the Columbus House, in New Haven, CT. This year, I’d like to double that number. Don’t worry about the condition, size or style of your sweaters. Any will work. Feel free to pass this along to friends, family, co-workers. Last year, smaller drives were organized by Girl Scout Troupes, churches, etc, and then those sweaters were forwarded on to me. If you’d like more information or want to know where to send your box of sweaters, email me at NikkiInStitches@gmail.com.
Thank you so much! I am so excited about the potential we have to help so many people this winter…and until then, enjoy the beautiful summer weather!
Nikki
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Awesome!!
I want to do this right now!!
=)
These are so neat! I want to make some too! Another thing to put on my list – what a great ministry!
I love your sweater drive idea! It’s always encouraging to see people using their crafts for good causes. The mittens are a fantastic idea. I live in Southern California where it rarely gets cold enough for sweaters, let alone mittens, but these would make great gifts for all my family members who live in places that actually have a real winter season. If I get started now, I might be able to have them done by Christmas!
I love your mittens! I must say that I am really glad I don’t need mittens, or even sweaters, too often (I live in Southern AZ). Very clever and a great way to recycle.