Fresh knitters take on their first charity
Hawera’s newest knitting group has reached a first of many milestones by selecting a charity to donate to.
Although members have already started handing their knitted goods to places in need, the Peggy Purl knitting group will now start to donate to 4 the Kidz.
Meryl Henry-Schou formed the group with Jacqui Bills in July last year and said they had been tight-knit every since - all working on various bits and pieces.
‘‘Members choose to do whatever they like,’’ Henry-Schou said.
Traditionally, Peggy Purl groups were formed for people to knit small ‘Peggy Squares’ which would then be put together to create a large blanket.
Times have since changed, and as Henry-Schou said the knitters can create whatever they wish, and whatever is in need.
4 the Kids is a charitable trust that focuses on raising awareness for children to grow up in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment.
Charity Chairwoman Carolyn Cragg said the organisation is in constant need of knitted teddies and blankets to place in care packages for children who don’t have such a godo environment.
Cragg said the teddies and blankets are placed into care packages that are kept in places like police cars to be handed to children who may be in the middle of a domestic violence incident.
‘‘The packs are organised in age groups, and you can’t tell me a teenager doesn’t want a teddy to cuddle,’’ she said.
Cragg said the teddy bears and blankets had to be brand new and freshly made to be given to the children who ‘‘already feel second best’’.
This is why she was very happy to be approached by the Hawera Peggy Purl group.
Henry-Schou said none of the knitters in the group specialised in teddies, but there seemed to be a few who were eager to learn.
The current members of the group focused on blankets, patch work and sensory items.
The group meets fortnightly on a Thursday at the Hawera Library and will continue to knit for others in need, but they are in constant need of wool, and material donations.