The popular Chase the Chill program in Redwood City has launched into its 5th consecutive year, although with modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chase the Chill encourages community members of all ages to contribute handmade items such as scarves, hats, socks and gloves. This year, there’s a new requested item: homemade masks. The items are collected throughout the month of October at various Redwood City locations. In November, they are hung up around town, and each is tagged with a message that reads “I don’t belong to anybody, if you like me take me, if you need me take me.” Last year, over 600 items were made, donated, tagged and hung and they were all snatched up the same day.
The pandemic has prompted changes to the program this year, organizer Jodi Paley said. For one, those contributing homemade masks must place each in its own zip lock bag, and they should combine all items they are donating into a larger bag, Paley said.
Collection bins are located at sites during specific times. One is located outside the main doors of the Community Activities Building at 1400 Roosevelt Ave. during business hours. Bins are also available at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave., and the Fair Oaks Senior Center, 2600 Middlefield Rd., during the drive-through lunch pick-up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At either location, you can drop your donation bags with the people handing out lunches, and note that it’s best to go on the early side because lunch lines could close earlier than 1 p.m.
Donation bags can also be dropped off at the Redwood City Main Library, 1044 Middelfield Rd. (place them into the book drop-off in the parking lot or in front of the library). A bin is also located at the entrance of the Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center at 1100 Veterans Blvd.
During Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Diane Howard encouraged the community to take part in Chase the Chill.
“I hope we get a lot of new participants,” she said. “It’s a really wonderful thing to do.”
For updates, additional information and reports and resources on the world of knitting and crocheting, follow Chase the Chill’s Facebook page here.
