Every year, Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops, an auto care and repair chain based in Chicago, hosts Snug Hugs for Kids. 2016 marks the 20th annual event and Merlin looks forward to securing more donations and handcrafted garments than ever before.
Crafters nationwide are sought to participate in the 20th annual Crochet & Knit-a-Thon (CKAT) and create one-of-a-kind garments to donate now through December 14. The CKAT is part of the larger Snug Hugs for Kids clothing drive which provides warm winter clothing for children served by Children’s Home + Aid, a leading provider of quality programs and services to families in need.
Donations of handcrafted items can be mailed to the event’s sponsor, Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops’ corporate office at 3815 E. Main St., Suite D, St. Charles, Illinois 60174, dropped off at any Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop in Illinois or Wisconsin or brought to the one-day appreciation event that will be held on Saturday, November 5, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois.
All participants are encouraged to register, especially those who will attend the local CKAT event to spend time with fellow crafters and view the items being donated. Registration forms can be obtained at www.merlins.com/ckat or select yarn shops in the Chicagoland area. All items crafted help more than 40,000 children served each year by Children’s Home + Aid from the snow and winds during winter.
Knitted items should be sized to fit boys or girls aged newborn to 18-year-old children. The need is greatest for newborn to seven-year-old children. The following items are needed most:
· Gloves, hats and scarves
· Sweaters, slippers and blankets
· Baby items (sweaters, caps, layette sets and blankets)
“Every year we are amazed by the volunteers who literally handcraft thousands of beautiful items for the children served by our charity partner, Children’s Home + Aid,” said Merlin’s Marketing director, Penny McDowell. “I’ve personally witnessed the joy in a child’s eyes when they receive a handmade gift and they realize someone special took the time to make something beautiful and warm especially for them. We know through this program two people are warned by every gift — the recipient and the volunteer who crafted the item.”
On December 14, Merlin franchisees, corporate staff and vendor partners will deliver the crafted items and donations to strategically located Children’s Home + Aid family centers. Over 30 Merlin vans and vendor trucks will form a caravan to deliver an anticipated nine tons of clothing.
For more information, visit: http://www.merlins.com/snughugs/
