SWAP: Scarves With A Purpose at the University of Michigan

Updates on SWAP so far… | January 20, 2010

Hi everyone!

S.W.A.P. is a club at the University of Michigan that teaches people how to knit and focuses on building community and becoming educated about homelessness and poverty. As of about a month ago, it is an official club! Meetings are every Wednesday night from 9-11 p.m. in the Couzens living room. Anyone is welcome to join at any time! If you’d like more information about what it does, go to the S.W.A.P. website at www.scarveswithapurpose.com or UMich’s Maize pages at http://uuis.umich.edu/maizepgs/view.cfm?orgID=10006924.
Here’s an update on what we have accomplished so far:

-The first meeting was held on October 27, 2009. About 8 people attended. Now, there are about 30 members!

-We received advice from another club on campus called MichKnit.

-PB&U granted us $150.

-December: S.W.A.P. becomes an official U of M club!

-January 8, 2010: S.W.A.P. opens a bank account

-The first officer/board member meeting was held on January 11, 2010. Melanie Hebeisen is president, Liz Kuiper is vice president, Emily Knowles is the homeless shelter coordinator, Val Godoshian is the secretary, Bethany Nagle is the publicist, Sam Morykwas is the yarn gatherer, Andrew Stockwell is the fundraiser/treasurer, and Michael Jacobson and Keegan Cisowski are the researchers. Charles Behling is our advisor.

-Also on January 11, 2010: Val sends an e-mail to Glacier Hills nursing home to organize a day of knitting with the residents! We are still waiting to hear back from them. Andrew is also made an official signer for the bank account.

-January 12, 2010: Liz Kuiper sends an e-mail to David and Wendy updating them on our progress.

-January 13, 2010: At our first S.W.A.P. meeting after winter break, Keegan and Michael present some research to the group. Andrew also received funding from Hall Council.

-January 14, 2010: Emily e-mails three sources at the homeless shelter in Detroit started by Mitch Albom. She also plans on calling a shelter in Ann Arbor.

-January 18, 2010: Liz Kuiper submits a mini-grant proposal to the MCSP office. She also brought 3 scarves and many hats back to school from her family. Sam also created this blog! Val also created a generic thank you note for all the people who have/will donate to us.

-January 19, 2010: Mel receives advice from S.O.S.

-As of today (January 20), we have knit 30 scarves and received an additional 41 from outside resources.

We’re now brainstorming ways to raise money for Haiti. Some ideas were requiring a $2 fee every time someone starts a new scarf and having a jar for change at each S.W.A.P. meeting.

---