How long is a piece of wool?
The answer to this question is simple – long enough to bring a world of good to those in need.
Three years ago, Strand Rotary Club launched a project called ‘Blankets, Bears and Beanies’ to create warmth in as many ways as possible in the community.
Francois and Marien Denner of Port and Starboard hobby shop in Gordon’s Bay made this project possible with a generous donation of wool.
It wasn’t long before knitting groups bloomed. The first was as result of an idea to get a few people together on International Knitting Day (the second Saturday of June each year) at Voetstoots Antique Shop. Marien from Port and Starboard and Barbara Fourie, who runs Voetstoots, put posters up everywhere and Strand Rotary jumped at the chance to join the initiative and provide wool.
Now members of a club called “Crackling Needles” gather at the shop almost every week and have been producing goods like blankets, bears, beanies, squares and scarves ever since. Some of the goods are sold, which has enabled the project to become self-sustaining as the proceeds are used to buy more wool.
Another group gathered at the Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club. Affectionately known as the “Knit and Talk S#*t Group”, they gather almost weekly and also spend time making knitted goods for Rotary.
As a spin-off, Rotary also provides wool, through these knitting groups, to old-age homes in the area and they return completed goods to the club. This truly is the community working for the good of the community.
The project is a source of warmth, comfort and joy to disadvantaged members of the community, while benefitting the knitters at the same time.
The knitters’ creations have been donated to various beneficiaries, such as ACVV, Badisa, the police’s Victim Support Room, and Patch.
These organisations share our focus on the youth and provide invaluable services to the community, such as mentoring and counselling, early childhood development, and legal assistance.
The Strand and Hermanus Rotary clubs have also provided lessons to teach ladies in the community the art of knitting and crochet.
The participants in these classes have been able to create items to keep themselves warm, to generate income, while also being able to pass on their skills to others.
At a recent farewell for Fourie, whose shop Voetstoets is closing down, the Strand Rotary Club took the opportunity to award her a Paul Harris Award, the highest honour one can receive from the Rotary Club.
“We’re giving this to her for the work she’s done with the knitting group in mobilising the community to serve the community,” commented Elenore Baiocchi of Strand Rotary.
