Get Ready, Get Set, Knit for Special Olympics

As the weather shifts into fall, knitters pick up the purling pace. And this year, some local knitters have turned their talents to a project that benefits Special Olympics.

South Orange has a number of Special Olympic athletes in town, so Jennie Baker decided to make the 2012 Special Olympics USA Scarf Project her own this fall. Handmade scarves "will be a symbol of unity, support, compassion and empowerment, as the Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and supporters wear them with pride in knowing they have become part of the Special Olympics family," in this winter's games.

The idea for a scarf project resulted from an opportunity to provide a gift of welcome for the athletes of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Boise, Idaho. A call went out for 5,000 Red Heart delft blue & white scarves, and by Games time nearly 60,000 scarves had arrived from every state in the U.S. and from 12 countries around the world.

Special Olympics Idaho paid it forward with their own state scarf project in 2010. More than 2,100 Red Heart cherry red and grey heather scarves arrived from 48 states in just five weeks for the Idaho State Winter Games. They were presented to the athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and supporters during the Opening Ceremony and worn throughout the games.

In 2011, the Special Olympics USA Scarf Project went national. 35 Special Olympics Programs participated, with some 26,000 scarves handknit and donated.

For 2012, Special Olympics New Jersey will distribute their scarves for the following events:

2012 Special Olympics New Jersey State Floor Hockey Tournament in Wildwood, NJ

2012 Special Olympics New Jersey State Winter Games in Vernon, NJ

Special Olympics New Jersey’s goal is to collect approximately 1,400 scarves. Guidelines -- which are fairly simple -- are here.

SONJ Sports Complex
Attn: Scarf Project
3 Princess Rd.
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

by January 6, 2012