the kosovo crisis

CARE Delivers Warm Winter Gear to Kosovars

CONTACT:Amy Lynn O'Toole, (404) 681-4579, ext. 383

ATLANTA (September 22, 1999) - The international relief and development organization CARE is delivering more than 40 boxes of warm winter boots, wool hats and soft quilts assembled by a Colorado church group to vulnerable families in Kosovo.

Grace Walker, the primary organizer of the "Quilts for Kosovo" aid effort, contacted CARE after coming across a newsletter asking for help providing warm winter clothing for the returning refugees in Kosovo.

Using old blankets and materials donated from local stores, a group of women from St. Barnabas Church in Glenwood, Colorado, hand-knit approximately 30 quilts to send to Kosovo. They hope to follow up with 20 more. Local businesses also contributed packaging and shipping materials to the volunteer effort.

In yet another show of generosity, some 200 wool caps were donated by a local store owned by Lisa Gresock. "This was a wonderful opportunity for me," said Gresock. "I'm very glad to have a chance to help."

"Everyone was so cooperative," added Walker. "A bunch of children are going to be so thrilled when they see those hats."

CARE is transporting the items to Kosovo where they will be distributed before the harsh winter weather grips the region.

CARE is providing short-term emergency shelter, food, medical care and de-mining assistance in Kosovo. To prepare for winter, CARE also is distributing firewood, coal and stoves to meet the immediate fuel needs of Kosovars. In addition, CARE will be offering longer-term agricultural rehabilitation assistance to help Kosovars get back on their feet and to revive the local economy.

ABOUT CARE
CARE is one of the world's largest international relief and development organizations responding to the complex problem of reducing global poverty. CARE works in more than 60 countries worldwide and, in 1998, helped improve the lives of more than 35 million people in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.