I’ve been posting here, occasionally, about the valley-wide effort in my special corner of the world to make and give handmade hats to folks in need of comfort and warmth.

The project, Hats for the Haven, found the perfect partner in rePlay Arts in White River Junction, VT. RePlay Arts is a creative re-use store, i.e. some folks donate art supplies and other folks donate money to take them home. Sometimes they are the same folks.

And, just up the road, is the perfect place to distribute these incredible gifts to the folks who need them, the Upper Valley Haven. The Haven provides housing, support, and a community food market to families and individuals experiencing homelessness or other great needs.

Late last week, Jamie from rePlay Arts lined up the 58 hats and 11 scarves that have been donated so far on the bright pink couch in the store and took some pictures of them.

Color, right? Then they were whisked to that Haven just in time for the residents holiday party where the kids got to pick out the hat they wanted as well as hats for their family members. Any hats still available were offered to folks coming in for the community food market.

Now, this is so not the end of the project. As everyone who lives up here knows, there’s a whole lot of winter still to go. I mean, today’s only the first full day of the cold season.

So calling all you yarny types–itching to get those hooks and needles going after the rush of the holidays fades away? Plunge right in!! We will be taking hat donations for the Haven all the way through March.

An ENORMOUS thank you to everyone who made the effort to provide comfort and warmth. If you have yarn to donate to rePlay Arts, now would be a good time. If you want to check out the available yarn at the store, please do. Want some company while you create? RePlay would welcome your presence on the pink couch. Come in any time they are open.

Wishing you all awesome holidays no matter how you celebrate.