Ram Wools thanks Winnipeg for refugee donations

Ram Wools Yarn Co-op, anemployee-owned knitting store on Portage Avenue, is thanking Winnipeggers for donating more than1,000 pairs of mittens, hats, parkas, and household itemsto help new refugees settlein Manitoba.

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"Manitobans have done an amazing show of support for those fleeing war, homelessness, and malnutrition," said Ram Wools in a recentemail.

While the haul is impressive, thecollection drive is far from over, saidLoriFranko, a member-owner of RamWools.

"A lot of people are asking if we're still taking donations and we definitely want to get that message across that yes we are," she said.

The store's goal is to collect2,000 items for refugees this winter.

The initial ideato collect knitted items for refugees camein November,saidFranko. Acustomer saw a post on the knitting website Ravelryabouta Toronto group who was collected knitted items for refugees.It didn't take long forRamWoolsto stitch a plan together in Winnipeg.

"Within a minute, we had it onFacebookand the donations started coming in," saidFranko.

Settlement agency, Altered Minds, is in charge of distributing the donated goods.

"Our contact at Altered Minds let us know that people were quite excited and happy to get the goods," Frankosaid.

Ram Wools' collection campaign has expanded from hand-knit winteritems to store-bought winter gear, parkas, and household items like plates and cutlery. Everything can be dropped off at the store's downtownlocation,989 Portage Ave.