Winter Scarves for Russian Orphans

By Karen Guin

Yarn is being transformed into winter scarves for Russian orphans through an initiative launched by Paul Maiden, director of the School of Social Work, and his wife, Anschion Maiden. During a trip last winter to Izhevsk, Russia, the couple saw many children on the streets without scarves, hats or gloves, "even though the temperatures were well below zero," said Paul Maiden. "When we returned home, my wife started knitting scarves and hasn't stopped since."

Her handiwork has inspired students, faculty and staff members, and community volunteers to join in. Thanks to donations of yarn, both remnants and new skeins, the group has already produced more than 90 scarves, most of which are on display in the school office. Many more are under way. This June, the Maidens and a group of study abroad students will deliver the scarves to the Volgograd Institute for Youth Policy and Social Work in southern Russia, which in turn will distribute them to orphan children.