TERRE HAUTE —
Their apartment’s white block walls stand in stark contrast to the brightly colored afghans piled up on the couch.
“Each one’s different. So they each get one that’s unique,” Rondha Youngs said proudly of the crochet work she and her husband send off to the Wounded Warrior Project.
On Social Security Disability income, Youngs and her husband Roy live in Garfield Towers, from whence the two have sent off nearly 60 hand-crocheted blankets of varying sizes to wounded veterans largely from their own funds.
“Almost a year now. I started it last December,” Youngs said, explaining she’d had gastric bypass surgery and the doctor advised her to find a stationary hobby.
As she learned to crochet, friends and family began giving her yarn to help out, and the idea of making afghans for wounded soldiers took hold. Since then, Youngs has shipped about 40 off to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio has another dozen ready to ship and as many still in the finishing stages. “About a week to a week and a half each,” she said of her production rate, noting it depends on the size of the blankets, which range from lap-size to full-size.
The cost to ship the boxes is about $17, and Youngs has established a website with more information as she welcomes assistance with postage or donations of yarn and materials. “I send pictures to the donors so they can see what I’ve done,” she said proudly.
A 1988 graduate of Paris High School, Youngs said she recently returned to the area from Texas, where she was living with her husband. The two have been in Garfield Towers since September.
Inside their apartment, Christmas lights brightened the room and stockings adorned the walls.
“Thank goodness he learned how to crochet,” Youngs said of Roy, who has been working on his own afghans for the soldiers. “And if anyone knows how to crochet and wants to help, we’ll take that, too.”
In addition to the donations of yarn and postage, Youngs is offering up a football the couple got from the Chicago Bears as part of an online raffle to raise money for the endeavor. The drawing will be at 7 p.m. Friday, and tickets can be purchased online at the couple’s site. Youngs said she also honors personal requests, meaning if individuals know a soldier they’d like to have an afghan sent to, she’ll do that and include a card with it.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Couple making afghans for soldiers
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Inspiration for the class of 2012
