Last week I wrote and invited you all to join in the #keepWNCwarm event with me. But I also wanted to do something from the designer end of things to say “thank you” to each one of you who decided to support the area I lived in for a quarter of a century!
If you’ve donated, please use the code pray4westernnc on Ravelry or Payhip to download your choice of either Downtown Burnsville, Wednesday with Wendy, or Winter Chic.
I picked each of these because they are all cold weather projects, but more than that – they all have a particular tie to my own home.
Downtown Burnsville – Burnsville, NC was home to “my” LYS… on the long drive to the dentist, we’d pass by Yummi Yarns, a welcoming shop full of yarn and Appalachian crafted arts and goods. Over the years I developed a friendship with the owner, Wendy. Thankfully, I got the “I’m okay” message from her, but I know her area was hit severely. Wendy isn’t ready to speak about what’s going on there, but you can see post here for pictures of Burnsville and nearby Swannonoa, NC: https://www.instagram.com/p/DA1wScgv5xp/?img_index=9
Wednesday with Wendy – one of my dearest seniors from my church family is Wendy. She and her hubby live out in Newland in a beautiful community that’s served as the backdrop for several of my designs. She inspired Wednesday with Wendy cowl design. Despite no power or internet connections, wildly and so thankfully, my church family was able to stay connected via Signal. Through it I heard how her neighbor had shared his generator with them to keep her husband’s breathing machine running at night, the dehumidifier running to dry out the basement flood, and her fridge so they could preserve what food they did have access too in those early post Helene days. Despite the struggles they encountered, they volunteered to help another “younger” neighbour (in her 60s) who’s entire house was flooded 9 feet deep! The resiliency they showed and the concern of others “worse off” even through the patchiness of our communications shined the brilliance of Jesus’ love that shines through them daily.
Winter Showers – combining Snow Showers, a cowl modeled by Puddles, and Winter Chic, snood, is double knit incredibly warm and cozy design. This one I picked for functionality and because my parents’ home was Puddles’ home, his entire life. Though you may not see it, when I see this design my heart is right back there remember him and our years together.
If you want to donate, but wonder if it’s too late. It isn’t! Just yesterday I heard about Elk Mills, TN (just across the NC/ TN border) where 100-150 people were found without power and without the ability to transport anything in or out except via ATVs. I pray this is the last of the “unfound” communities! The amount of time recovery from Helene (& Milton down in FL) will take is not weeks, not even months, but years.
If you want to donate, but are not sure where, I highly recommend Samaritan’s Purse. They are trained in disaster relief and this time they went to work right in the backyard of their headquarters. Rather than tending to their own losses, they joined together to bring warmth, power, food, water, and other necessities, literally, the next day.