Group knits for charity
In December 2020 The Ensign reported on Benalla's Helen Kerekes and her knitting group of 10 dedicated members who were busy making beanies for Melbourne charity Kogo.
In the ensuing months they have continued to knit and the group has grown to 40 volunteers, from across the north east, who are about to send their 1500th item to the charity.
And Helen said it was not just her knitting group that was growing.
“The charity group I deal with, Kogo, when we started they had 17 charities they were supporting, now they are supporting more than 300,’’ Ms Kerekes said.
“They send items to homeless charities, domestic violence charities, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and different kids charities.
“Recently we sent 1000 item down, and there is about another 500 here at the moment waiting to go out.”
The group has also diversified and is making a range of knitted items to support the charities Kogo distributes to.
“We’re making scarves and fingerless gloves,” she said.
“We do stuff for premature babies at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. That is things like little tiny beanies and soft toys.
“And members
of
the group are coming up with new ides of what to knit all the time.”
Ms Kerekes now has volunteers from as far away as Bega and Deniliquin in NSW.
“We also have a 93-yearold in Cobram, Dorothy. Her daughter drops off everything she has made,” she said.
Ms Kerekes said she had no idea how much wool the group had used thus far — but they could always use more.
If you have any wool you would like to donate to the group, or if you would like to offer your knitting skills, you can phone Ms Kerekes on 5762 5386.
You can find out more about what Kogo does at www.kogo.org.au