One hundred and twenty three long-distance hugs

A recent email from Jeff reads:

I think this is the first time I’m giving away to people I don’t know--and it feels good.  It’s pretty special when you’re making something with your hands and the thing that you’re making is going to be used to keep someone warm.  It’s like a long-distance hug. =)     

Kawergosk Camp, near Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, courtesy of G. Haney

One hundred and twenty three pieces ranging from a blanket to leg warmers. 

WOW, our hopes and expectations for this small effort were exceeded to say the least. 

These articles will be received by Syrian refugees and the internally displaced people in Iraqi Kurdistan. A colleague returning to Iraqi Kurdistan volunteered to transport most of the items. 

A timeline, below, estimates the date of arrival. 

A few pieces which came in later in the week, but are included in our final count, will travel with me to Iraqi Kurdistan in early March. They will be distributed to refugees and IDPs around Erbil.

Please feel free to email us if you have any questions. 

Through this initiative, the issues surrounding refugees across the world became personal. 

As we taught beginner's how to knit, introduced people to certain issues, continued to learn more together and connected with strangers across the Bay Area and beyond, the power of community resonated with us both. 

Knitters, crocheters, yarn lovers, old friends, new friends, and strangers thank you for taking this journey with us. The items we so carefully made by hand are now on a journey of their own. I look forward to updating you all through this blog as it continues throughout the next few weeks and, perhaps, begin the project again late summer/early fall of 2016.

January 19, 2016

Items sent vis UPS to Encinitas, California

January 24, 2016

Items travel via air to Istanbul, Turkey with a colleague from the American University in Iraq

January 25, 2016

Items land in Suleimani, Iraqi Kurdistan

January 31, 2016

Items transported to the American University in Iraq

First week of February , 2016

Items are transported by car to camps near Sinjar Mountains and Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan