A last plea from afghans for Afghans

I know we're all busy and giving to the hurricane victims, but Afghans for Afghans is making one last request for 5000 handknit and crocheted wool and wool blend items for children in Afghanistan:

Hello Knitters and Crocheters for Afghanistan,

** 5,000 Kids Campaign's Final Stretch! **

Many of you have already contributed beautiful, handmade blankets and wool garments for our special campaign to clothe 5,000 Afghan girls and boys this winter. Thank you very much for being generous and involved.

This is one last appeal as we enter the final stretch before our due date of September 26.

Last week we did a rough count of the incoming contributions -- we are half-way toward reaching the 5,000 mark. We thought we would be closer at this point. It is unlikely that we will make the goal before we have to pack the container for shipping overseas to Afghanistan.

What we are sending is all lovingly made, warm, and much needed in Afghanistan. We can all feel good about that. Thank you for making this happen.

Might we get closer to our 5,000 goal? Possibly. Here are some steps you can take today:

1. Knit or crochet a quick child's garment this week. Perhaps a hat or mittens in a chunky wool yarn. So easy to mail one small item in an envelope to us.

Our friend elann.com has rallied by putting this free pattern for a worsted-weight Moriarty Hat on their website to encourage last-minute knitting for Afghanistan:

probably have your own favorite patterns that can be whipped up fast.2. Ask a friend or a few friends to knit or crochet one wool garment for anAfghan girl or boy. Tell them that their gift will mean one more warmer child this winter. Perhaps give your friend a ball of wool to use. Offer to gather the completed items and mail together in a flat-rate USPS Priority postage box. Print out our flyer to show them: Spread the word today through your blog, email lists and network, onlinecommunities/bulletin boards, local yarn shop and guilds (their email lists if they have one), house of worship, etc. If we each either directly ask one person or publicize the opportunity to many using the power of the Internet in particular -- we should be able to reach 1,000 *new* volunteers to make one small wool garment by September 26.

1. Forward this email message in its entirety to knitters and crocheters.

You probably have your own good ideas for this last-minute push. We are grateful for your taking the initiative now. Many children in Afghanistan this winter will be the beneficiaries of your efforts.

Our next collection due date won't be until 2006. If you've been thinking about participating, now is the time.

Blankets and garments received by September 26 will arrive in Afghanistan in time for the harsh winter months.

We have about two more weeks to collect more wool hats, socks, mittens, sweaters, and vests, as well as blankets, for children at orphanages, children's centers, and clinics in Herat, Jalalabad, and Kabul.

For program details and mailing addresses, see our Guidelines page --