Brooklyn Park woman crocheting scarves for former foster care children

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (KMSP) - As a lifelong crocheter, Jean Kjeldahl of Brooklyn Park knows how to spin a good yarn.

"I've done slippers, boots, socks, mittens, fingerless mittens - you name it I can do it," said Kjeldahl.

But Kjeldahl is seeing red these days about the situation many young adults, who used to be in foster care, face during the holidays.

"When those kids turn 18 they are out and on their own,” she said. “Where do they go for Christmas? Where do they go for Thanksgiving? They are not connected to anyone."

The Red Scarf Project started a few years ago and has spread across the country as a way as a way to help former foster children who are in college. After learning about the effort, Kjeldahl said for her birthday last month all she wanted was to donate 250 red scarves to people who've aged out of the foster care system.

"We take for granted we can go to the store and buy a scarf or make a scarf for ourselves, we don't think anything of it,” said Kjeldahl. “But to someone who has no money or connection, they are not going to get a scarf, especially something homemade.”

So far, she's crocheted about 25 herself and hooked co-workers in her Knitters at Noon group to contribute to the care packages for college students that will warm both bodies and hearts.

"How heartwarming is it that you are going to get a package for Christmas that you didn't even expect?” she said. “You don't know what's in the box, in the package. So yeah, I think it will be a wonderful thing."

For most of us, love is the common thread running through our lives. For Kjeldahl, giving a gift that delivers that to someone who needs it would be the best Christmas present of them all.

"And I'm hoping next year is even bigger than it is this year," she said.

Those looking to join in on the Red Scarf Project can make their own scarves, but they must be a shade of red, five feet long and five to eight inches wide. You can drop them off at any Topline Federal Credit Union in Como Park, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Bloomington, or Maple Grove or any Angeno’s Pizza and Pasta. If you don't crochet or knit, just drop off an 8 oz skein of red yarn, and Kjeldahl will make sure one will be made.