IN a bid to help medical professionals at the forefront in the fight against Covid-19, residents at the ECHO Foundation have been working their magic to knit beanies, which they distribute to various hospitals in Port Elizabeth.
The ECHO Foundation, which was established in 1965, aims at being a self-sustaining provider of acceptable, secure, and cost-effective housing, institutional care, and community services to senior citizens at their 10 facilities in the Bay.
According to Dean Gurney, CEO of ECHO Foundation, the management at ECHO initiated the knitting project earlier this month to provide a platform for their residents to make a difference to the Covid-19 relief effort, and the people on the front line.
“Our residents have an enormous amount of goodwill, talent and experience to share, and give back to society.
“This type of project is about enabling and giving our residents a platform with a meaningful outcome,” said Gurney.
“The residents feel excited and motivated to be of value to the relief effort, and this gives them purpose, while making a difference to the world.”
According to Gurney, they decided to donate knitted beanies specifically to ICU staff members at various hospitals to help keep them warm during the winter months.
“It is cold travelling to and from a difficult job, and we would therefore like to add a small measure of comfort to their lives,” said Gurney.
The project, which began earlier this month, has seen at least 50 of the 1 500 ECHO Foundation residents sharing their love for knitting.
Thus far, the knitting enthusiasts have donated about 40 beanies to Life St George’s Hospital, with a lot more to come, as they are at different stages in the supply chain.
Gurney said they had approached Dora Nginza Hospital, Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital and Livingstone Hospital to hopefully donate to their ICU staff as well.
ECHO Foundation has also received numerous donations of mohair yarn of differing sorts from approximately 20 individuals, as well as commercial companies like SAMIL Natural Fibres and African Expressions and Mohair South Africa, which they then distribute to the residents to create their knitted masterpieces.
Apart from beanies knitted by the residents, he said they had also received a great amount of support from people in the Bay who were interested in donating beanies to medical staff.
Gurney further said, despite the project still being in the early stages, they had already collected knitted items from various locations.
“The project only recently started, but the initial uptake and enthusiasm from within and outside the ECHO villages has been astounding,” he said.
Gurney is hopeful that the project will continue beyond the Covid-19 pandemic and expand their services by knitting beanies for any organisation in need, such as children’s homes.
