Thanks to a thoughtful group of knitters, many Winter Games athletes found warmth and comfort on top of Chestnut Mountain in Galena this year.
Andrea Whitmore met Special Olympics Illinois staff members at a Blue Cross Blue Shield volunteer event where a number of organizations present their purpose and mission and share opportunities where BCBS members can get involved.
In her spare time, Whitmore is the Vice President of the Knitters of the Dunes, a knitting guild in Indiana where she resides. Special Olympics is one of the organizations supported by that guild.
After becoming aware of the Scarf Project in Indiana, and supplying scarves to Special Olympics Indiana athletes for two years, she inquired about a similar project with Illinois. “I have never been to the Winter Special Olympics, but I have always been aware of the organization and this event.”
Whitmore and her fellow Knitters of the Dunes made several red and white scarves all with tags that read “Made With Tender Loving Care.” The scarves were distributed to athletes at Winter Games through a raffle at the Families Table.
“I cannot take all the credit for the scarves,” Whitmore says. “I reached out to a few of my coworkers who also knit and crochet to see if they would be willing to donate a scarf.”
Special Olympics Illinois is grateful for the all the support they receive from Blue Cross Blue Shield and from their employees. They are an official partner of Special Olympics Illinois.
By Alexandra McMillin, Manager of Communications