Heart-warming project

Miller Photography

Stuart Rothstein (left) of Midwood HS, Brooklyn looks over some of the donated scarves with Alford and UFT staffer Seth Goldstein.

Miller Photography

Miller Photography

Vivian Quintero of PS 133, Queens, models the hat she created that afternoon.

At a UFT knitting jamboree to highlight the Hurricane Sandy Relief Scarf Campaign — 1,000 Scarves to Warm the Soul, serious and fledgling knitters and crocheters, men and women, young and old gathered at union headquarters on Dec. 17 to put their hands and skills to work.

As fingers flew and needles clicked, brightly colored scarves appeared inch by inch in sizes appropriate for babies, children and adults. One of Laura Banks’ group of 4th-grade beginners from PS 81 in Brooklyn said, “It makes me feel good knowing I can be Santa to others; that it’s not mostly about you all the time.”

The youngster caught the spirit of the campaign to help families who have been left without warm clothing or adequate heat. So did the students in the Midwood HS Knitters Club who contributed their handiwork.

Vivian Quintero crochets so quickly that she started a hat that afternoon and had it finished before she left. With the help of her sister, Quintero has already delivered 20 scarves.

PS 81 Chapter Leader Camille Eaddy, herself a victim of the hurricane, said she realized just how important a scarf can be in the dark and cold of Election Day night.

Miller PhotographyPS 81 Chapter Leader Camille Eaddy (left) gives a knitting lesson to a student from her school and UFT Vice President Karen Alford (center).

Already hundreds of scarves have been created, and the campaign goes on at schools and in the homes of UFT members across the city.

For more information, contact Eaddy at ceady@uft.org or call 1-212-777-7500, ext. 7719.