Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Knit one, warm two

Special Olympics scarves proliferate

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Some of the Special Olympics scarves that were made all over Idaho hang ready to be packed up for each athlete when they arrive in February. Photo by

In late 2007 people around Idaho began knitting. For the Special Olympics Invitational Winter Games, held in February 2008, some 1,000 scarves made it to the hands of the visiting athletes. But it didn't stop there.

For the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, to be held in Boise, McCall and Sun Valley from Feb. 7-13, more than 30,000 scarves have poured into the Boise Post Office.

"They came in by the hundreds," said Ketchum resident Chip Fisher, 2009 Idaho Special Olympics CEO. "One woman knit 65 of them."

Laura Cushing, senior logistics and operations manager for Special Olympics volunteers, conceived the idea.

"We always come up with a gift for the games," she said last year. "I thought, is there any way to do something special—something for volunteers who couldn't volunteer or for people who were too young?"

Each of the crocheted or knit scarves is Delft blue and white with no logos. Some have tassels and all are unique, with a personal note attached from the creator.

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"It's been truly amazing," Boise Postmaster Dan Frasier said. "We've literally had trucks and trucks full of packaged scarves supporting these athletes coming in the mail from all over. Our Boise postal employees are extremely proud to be part of this great effort. The Postal Service is honored to deliver America's personal gifts of support to these athletes coming from around the world."

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