2008 Valley Fleece Fiesta

Hello All. So I am really excited to announce my first attempt at organizing a charity event! The first every Valley Fleece Fiesta will take place this Thursday, Dec. 18 at the First Church of Northampton from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Volunteers at the event will enjoy holiday music and cocoa while creating warm and durable, fleece no-sew blankets that will be donated to Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals of Florence and the Hampshire County Interfaith Emergency Homeless Shelter.

According to a March 2008 article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette newspaper, “Nearly 5,000 people in the Pioneer Valley experienced homelessness last year. About half of them were parents and children, and many have been homeless for more than a year.”
Yvonne Freccero, President of Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals says this year may be even worse.

“This winter shelters will be hard pressed to take care of the increasing number of people who will find themselves homeless,” Freccero said.

It is with this in mind that community members have come together to provide some of these residents with one New England necessity – blankets. Local organizations and businesses such as The Textile Co. of Greenfield, ServiceNet of Northampton, and the First Churches of Northampton, have extended their great generosity by supporting this event.

For more information about the 2009 Fleece Fiesta event, or to volunteer or make a donation, please contact Michael Busack at (508) 641-1546 or Michael.a.busack@gmail.com.