Special delivery sign of big things to come

Proof that Indianapolis is moving forward with plans for the Super Bowl in February: a special delivery Wednesday, and 24-Hour News 8 was the only news crew there to watch it.

On a 90 degree day, the delivery was of something very cool to the Indianapolis Super Bowl Committee. Interns and staff unloaded a much needed cargo: handmade scarves to help keep some of the 8,000 volunteers at the big event next winter warm.

Watching it all was Dianna Boyce, director of communications for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Committee.

"We still have a goal to reach,” she said. “We're not to that goal yet, but its so exciting to see this level of enthusiasm."

The scarves were created over thousands of hours by volunteers knitting and crocheting.

AT&T Pioneers promised 500 handmade scarves in December, and they delivered on that promise Wednesday, actually delivering more than 1,000.

"More scarves than we've ever had before in one load on the hottest day of the year,” said Allison Melangton, CEO of the 2012 Host Committee, “so it’s very appropriate."

Margaret Trammel coordinated the AT&T Pioneers’ knitting effort.

"It's been a labor of love,” she said. “And I've had so many people express what an awesome job and how great it was to do this."

This load of scarves boosts the total number received by the committee to just over 6,000. All are hand made. Some are simple, others more complex. There's one that looks like the down measuring chain used in NFL games. One includes a depiction of the handshake before the game. Another shows a referee throwing a flag.

Many of the volunteer crafters have attached notes to their finished scarves. One said: “Linda G from Selma, Indiana: This scarf is my first chance to be a part of Indiana's first Super Bowl.” Another said: “Hope this helps keep you warm.” One person even sent in an autographed glossy photo with the scarf she knitted – that one was hand-crafted from famed gameshow personality Vanna White.

So far, the committee has received scarves from 26 states, and three countries outside the U.S,: England, Canada and South Africa. At least 2,000 more scarves are needed. If you’re interested in helping out, instructions are available on the Super Bowl Committee’s website .