Ashby Ponds "Knit Wits" Lend a Hand for Valentine's Day Surprise

The Ashburn retirement community's knitting group made 30 scarves for the Red Scarf Project organized by Foster Care to Success

 The Ashby Ponds "Knit Wits" produced 30 scarves for the Red Scarf Project.[/caption]
(Ashburn, Va.) - Last year, Sue Waffle volunteered to help with the Foster Care to Success Red Scarf Project through her church and decided she wanted to collect scarves for the effort going forward.  The objective of the Red Scarf Project is to collect handmade red scarves for delivery to foster students in Valentine's Day care packages.  She shared the details of the project with her dad, Bill Davis, who lives at Ashby Ponds retirement community.  He then put Sue in touch with Cathy Williams, a resident who heads up the "Knit Wits" knitting group at Ashby Ponds.  During the summer of 2013, the "Knit Wits" produced 30 scarves for the project!
"It was a fun project for us, and it really took off!  We were able to contribute a lot of scarves," said Williams, who also encouraged the knitters at Heritage Hunt, where she used to live, to participate.  Williams, who has been knitting for over 60 years, is no stranger to helping the greater community; she's contributed to several local efforts over the years and even taught knitting for Fairfax County adult education for 15 years.  At Ashby Ponds, the "Knit Wits" sell their items and contribute all proceeds to the community's Benevolent Care Fund, which provides support to residents who, despite careful planning, outlive their financial resources.
Over the past few months, Waffle said that she, her dad, and many friends helped to sort over 2000 donated scarves, including those made by the Ashby Ponds "Knit Wits".  Recently, volunteers came together at the Foster Care to Success office in Sterling to assemble and mail almost 2000 Valentine's Day care packages to foster students all over the United States, which included the handmade scarves and other donated items.  According to the Foster Care to Success website, "the handmade red scarves in each of our Valentine's Day care packages become treasured keepsakes that our students wear for years."
"I am so appreciative to the 'Knit Wits' of Ashby Ponds," said Waffle.  "They shared their time and their talents with me and supported a cause that will bring joy to about 2,000 college students who will get these scarves and enjoy them for a lifetime.  I'm so thankful that they would give their time to help the community in such a valuable way."
For more information on Foster Care to Success and the Red Scarf Project, visit http://www.fc2success.org/.
About Ashby Ponds: Ashby Ponds, one of 16 retirement communities managed by Erickson Living, is situated on a scenic 132-acre campus in Ashburn, Virginia (approximately 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.). The community is home to more than 725 residents and has over 120 resident-run and resident-driven clubs and groups, an indoor pool, a fitness club, transportation services, 24-hour security, and flexible dining options. More information about Ashby Ponds can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.