Knitting to Keep the Fleece; Scarves will raise money to benefit Heifer Project.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Sandy Meindersma

HOLDEN - Although the mission of The Sheep Shack is to sell yarn, Team Sheep Shack is working to "Keep the Fleece."

Keep the Fleece is a worldwide event designed to raise $250,000 for Heifer Project International by knitting the world's longest scarf. Participants in Keep the Fleece are asked to make a donation based on the rows knitted or inches woven.

The money raised will be used by Heifer Project to purchase fleece-bearing animals for needy families all around the world. Heifer will also provide the families with the necessary training so that they can nurture and grow their herds and become self-sufficient.

Team Sheep Shack is participating by knitting six 60-inch scarves and donating $1 for every row knit.

Elexis Vesely, a resident volunteer at Heifer Project's Overlook Farm in Rutland, was knitting the first rows of the scarf at Team Sheep Shack's kickoff event this week.

"It's only six miles to Heifer International's Northeast Headquarters, which is why we decided to do the six scarves," said Christina Lentz Larsen, owner of The Sheep Shack. "It's about 300 rows per scarf, so we're hoping to raise at least $2,000."

Anne Moylan of Worcester said she came by after she read about the event in the newspaper. "I like Heifer Project," she said.

Team Sheep Shack's six scarves will

be brought to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival on Oct. 16, when they will be joined together with other Keep the Fleece scarves to...