The Ottauquechee Health Foundation Collects 390 Warm Items for Those In Need

Woodstock, VT, January 11, 2021 – Through the Share the Warmth initiative, the Ottauquechee Health Foundation collected over 390 hats, scarves, pairs of mittens, and other items to distribute to those in need.

“There was an outpouring of support for this initiative,” said Tayo Kirchhof, OHF’s Executive Director. “We never imagined that we would collect so many items to distribute in our towns—it’s truly amazing.”

Share the Warmth is an community event that invited people in the towns OHF serves to share the warmth by putting their talent towards creating clothing items that will help keep people warm during the cold winter months. The completed items are being distributed at various sites, including schools, community buildings, food shelves and churches in the Foundation’s nine service area towns.

Over 40 knitters and crocheters joined in the efforts to create warm items, including several people who live outside the area OHF serves. Participants had the opportunity to connect and create together for a good cause, and the results are truly heartwarming. OHF hosted multiple virtual gatherings as well as three collection events, in which makers delivered their items to the OHF office.

In addition to handmade items, OHF also received monetary and supply donations from those that might not have had the time to provide handmade items. All monetary donations received where donated to area food security organizations and any supplies were passed forward to knitters for their use during this project.

Due to the success of this event, OHF plans to make Share the Warmth an annual event. This year’s Share the Warmth will kick off in October .

For more information or to sign up to participate in this or any OHF events, please contact OHF at info@ohfvt.org or call 802-457-4188.