The Journal

Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Jenny Meinhardt Reference librarian Holly Hubenschmidt sits with a few of her handmade gifts Sept. 1 in Emerson Library.

Daylight grows shorter, nights feel cooler and the air becomes crisp. Soon, the sting of winter will seep through the city, cutting away at exposed skin. People will retreat indoors, taking refuge in the warmth and comfort of their homes.

But for the homeless of St. Louis, this is not an option.

Homeless men and women shiver in the frigid air. That's exactly the kind of situation that Holly Hubenschmidt, a reference librarian at Emerson Library and an avid knitter, is working to prevent.

Hubenschmidt wants to recruit skillful students and staff alike to make cold-weather clothing items for this year's Webster Works Worldwide. The donations will be presented to the homeless attending the holiday dinner at St. Peter and Paul Community Services' shelter, 1920 S. 8th St., in downtown St. Louis this December.

All cold-weather items are appreciated, including blankets, hats, mittens and socks.

"Making socks scares the bejeezus out of me, but if you can make them, they're welcome," Hubenschmidt said.

The knitting event, Webster Warms, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Emerson Library. Everyone is invited to bring their knitting needles and crochet hooks to collaborate and relax with fellow craftsmen.

"There's kind of an 'old lady' stigma to knitting and crocheting, but I find it the most relaxing thing in the world," Hubenschmidt said. "There's a kind of meditative Zen quality to it."

People are encouraged to donate materials such as yarn and fleece, even if they can't stay to help. Organizers are planning to set up a few sewing machines for people who can sew but can't knit, Hubenschmidt said.

"This is a great idea for Webster Works," said senior Erin Roberts, a broadcast journalism major. "This way, students can come to the library for a few hours, relax and do what they like to do anyway - and it still helps people in need without having to go out and get dirty."

This is the second year Hubenschmidt has put together a program to collect winter apparel for people in need. Last Valentine's Day, she collected scarves from the Webster University community, including the Kansas City campus. The gifts were sent to the Orphan Foundation of America's Red Scarf Project.

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