Operation Children Stockings

I know I still haven't made it back to post about Saturday, but I wanted to get this out there in case anyone would like to help us. Just let me know : )

Last year, on KH, we made stocking for the troops, and I just loved the idea. We had locals here in town that donated candy, baggies, stickers, time, stockings, and signatures (they signed 850 cards for us)...We then had the children decorate the envelopes and other cards...we stuffed the stockings we made and placed them in baggies with the cards...then after talking to Becky we also went ahead and divided up the candy placed it in a baggie...this way all she would have to do was stick in a stocking for the troops. We then boxed up all those items and sent them to Becky.

This year I would like to continue the stocking idea but felt I wanted to do something for Coshocton. It has been hit very hard by the economy with many losing jobs. Last Christmas we had more children in need than in the past few years and knew this year would be even more children.

We have been in contact with the Salvation Army here in Coshocton who does a Christmas Castle for the kids. They get to go into a local store and pick out a winter coat, etc.

When we ran the idea of what KH and Coshocton had done last year for the troops by them, they got all excited. We heard a lot of "God bless you all" and "Thank you, this our answer"...

We asked them could they give us a rough number of of how many children would need a stocking with a card (thinking maybe 500)...we were stunned when they said 1,000 and each day it's growing.

The local knitters here were going to be knitting the stockings, however this is beyond us, and we could really use some help reaching our goal.

So today I'm here to ask you all for a little help on the knitting and crocheting of the stockings.

We are going to start running ads now(was going to be Sept) for donations from here, to handle the cards/baggies/stickers/etc.

The stockings won't be due till sometime around Oct/November so we can get them stuffed, put in a baggies, and make sure they have a card with them. We will be asking the local schools in Aug if they care to help with the decorating of the cards.

We were hoping to make the stockings a little bigger than last year, not too much...but we found it hard to keep the candy in that size.

Here is the pattern for Magic Loop and 2 Circs (link on my blog)
Here is the pattern for DPNs (link on my blog)

The pattern size is 6" in length and 3" wide. You can use any pattern that you want, any yarn, any colors!

If you can't knit or crochet but still would like to help out, you can sew a stocking...or if you think that will go faster for ya!

We are also accepting donations for candy, quart/gallon sized baggies, stickers, markers, Children Christmas Cards, small gift for 3.00 or less.

We will be accepting till the first of November, this way we then will have time to stuff and assort the stockings

We also have a group on Ravelry and a KAL on KH.

Thank you!