Knitters brighten cold European nights
FREEZING temperatures. Long dark nights. Winters that make Australia’s feel warm.
These are the extreme living conditions poor people in eastern European countries endure, but at least their days are a little brighter courtesy of the kindness of South Gippslanders.
A social group based in Leongatha meets monthly to knit clothing and bedding for distribution to people in need in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.
Jumpers, beanies, scarves, rugs, blankets, slippers and bed socks, gloves and even teddies are made by a caring group of ladies that meets at Leongatha’s Uniting Church, and then distributed via the charity Mission Without Borders.
Johanna Haasjes is one of the crafty women.
“Can you imagine being cold in a poor country and what life would be like?” she said.
“When I’ve seen photos of over there, gray is the dominating colour and that’s why we send these colourful items.
“Someone who got a jumper for her little girl would think they’re holding love in their hands. It’s just about knowing that someone out there cares.”
A Mission Without Borders Knit and Natter Group meets at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Leongatha on the third Tuesday of the month from 10am to noon to create items to send overseas.
But there are many other ways for people to get involved.
“If we have got a big block of yarn of the same colour, we send that over there because of a lot of people would like to knit their own clothing can’t afford the material,” Mrs Haasjes said.
“We also send puzzles because if you think of the long winter nights over there, then making puzzles is a good activity to do together.”
Donations of knitted goods, puzzles, board games, embroidery and tapestry kits, bags of school and craft supplies, and lengths of fabric can be left at New Beginnings Christian Book Shop in Bair Street in Leongatha, and also the Haasjes’ home at 8 Trease Street, Leongatha.
“We get squares that people knit and there is a Probus group at Inverloch that sews them together,” Mrs Haasjes said.
To find out more, contact Mrs Haasjes on 5662 2494 or [email protected] or see www.mwb.org.au.
Simple knitting patterns for squares, rugs and blankets, beanies, scarves, gloves, slippers and bed socks, jumpers are teddies
are available.
Mission Without Borders is an international organisation founded in 1960 dedicated to serving the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people suffering poverty and persecution in eastern Europe.
Knitting a difference: members of the Mission Without Borders Knit and Natter Group meets at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Leongatha, from left, Johanna Haasjes, Karen Valk, Hillie Hibma, Leni Piening, Dicky Biersteker (seated), Jill Douma, Petronella Pinkster and Kay Murray.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Feb 11 2015. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
