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INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! I still can't believe the generosity of every one of you, who have helped us reach this unbelievable total!! Of course, Peter has now set us a new total to aim for this year 20100 items! As of 13th January 2010 we have 616 items already donated! So can we do it, we can get to 20100 items, can't we? I know we will all give it a good try!!
ORGANISATIONS HELPED
As usual, we helped many organizations this year. Some of our “regulars” i.e. 139 Club; Student Care Welfare (which incorporates People's Mission); QUINH Brisbane and Sunshine Coast; 2 Homeless Connect Days at Brisbane Town Hall; Mama Rene's Kitchen; Citycare; Kingston Kids and Family Centre; a variety of domestic violence shelters through the Domestic Violence Hotline. We also donated to a few new organizations that we heard of who needed our help such as TRAMS (Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Services, Toowoomba); Herston Lodge, Herston (they accommodate clients with mental health issues and also run basically on donations); Gateway Community Group Inc to name a few. I am always looking to help other organizations too, so if you know of any organization who helps the less fortunate and would agree to GIVE directly to the needy and not sell any items we donated to them, please let me know a contact name and number.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The next Homeless Connect Day will be held in May, the exact date I am unsure of but probably Wednesday May 5th. Then again in November. Due to the closure of the Brisbane Town Hall, this year the Homeless Connect Days will be held at the EKKA showgrounds, at this stage, the Dairy Pavillion. Hopefully, it will be more spacious, so we can have more room to display the donations to give out, plus more members helping, ( if you want!)
WATCH THIS SPACE - re KFBN 2011 CALENDAR!!
One of our members made comment in a posting on the group site about the calendar that the Australian Cricket Team put out to raise money for charity. Bunty mentioned, tongue in cheek, that we could do something similar to raise funds for K4BN, to help us buy more yarn, postage, petrol costs etc etc!! What started as a joke, has actually turned into something that IS going to happen. At this stage, the idea is to have a member's photo for each month of the year - partly unclad but strategically covered with either knitting they are doing, or donations etc. Also on each month, thinking of having either a simple knitting or crochet pattern, and alternate months maybe a write up about some of the charities that we help! We have had quite a few members nominate themselves for the calendar; have a photographer lined up willing to do the photos, so am now in the process of contacting printers etc, to see how much it would cost to print some calendars. If you are willing to have your photograph included and/or know of any printers; etc etc who may be able to help us at reduced rates (or better still for free) please let me know!! My family and I were discussing it at breakfast this morning and we have come up with the plan to have it ready to release at the November, 2010 Homeless Connect Day. There are lots of volunteers; service providers; council officers etc at HCD's, so we thought they might like to buy a calendar either for themselves or as Christmas gifts for others!
WARWICK JUMPER AND JAZZ FESTIVAL - July 17th - July 25th.
A few members and non members have expressed interest in attending the Warwick Jumper and Jazz Festival this year, after some of our members who have attended previously, have told us how good it is, and what fun it is! So we thought if we had enough interested we may be able to arrange a mini bus, accommodation as a group to keep costs down, then people can do their “own” thing, or we can get group bookings for some of the events that are held. From looking on their website yesterday, there is a lot of free events. If you would like to come with us as a group (partners are welcome - have been told the last weekend is the best,) please let me know ASAP, as it is such a popular event accommodation gets booked out fairly early!
NEW ITEMS NEEDED
With winter almost here we as usual need more warm items - NEW knitted/crocheted/quilted blankets - knee rug, single bed, double bed, cot/pram sizes or squares which can then be made up into rugs. Not only for the homeless but also for Domestic Violence Shelters; needy families; Aged Care Homes and animal shelters. BEANIES - mens, ladies, children. Indigenous colours for our indigenous needy are very much welcome, as is football (all codes) colours; Torres Strait Islander colours (blue, green, white and a touch of black although we have been told the black is not essential). SCARVES - as above. (Teenage homeless girls love feathers type ones.) GLOVES/fingerless gloves/mittens - Adults, children, babies JUMPERS/CARDIGANS/PONCHOS - Adult sizes in particular and older children - down to premmie sizes. SOCKS - Babies through to Adults. BED SOCKS - For aged care residents in particular. Some sort of non slip bottom is appreciated, but not necessary. (Can use dots of `puff paint' available from craft shops etc) BABY BOOTEES, MITTENS, BONNETS/BEANIES - all sizes babies including premature, also “angel” size (for the little angels who don't make it) TOYS - Knitted, crocheted, sewn toys especially needed near Christmas, but at all times of the year. Some are given to police, fire, ambulance stations for them to give out to children in a traumatic situation, as well as to children in Domestic Violence Shelters and the like. TOILETRIES - Some members make up toiletry bags (mainly material, with waterproof lining - plastic shower curtains!) and they are so very much appreciated by the needy. UNUSED toiletries of any size, (full size is great, the ones you get when you stay in a hotel etc are also fine; toothbrushes and toothpaste, individually wrapped cakes of soap (Health and safety reasons stipulate they must be wrapped individually); facewashers, new hairbrushes; combs; small packets of tissues; baby wipes; feminine hygiene products; mens cologne, etc etc. to put into the bags. For legal reasons we DO NOT put razors in any of the toiletry bags. (But we do give razors to homeless shelters etc, where they are kept under lock and key, and when handed out the recipient must shave with supervision and throw away the razor blade when finished ) HOUSEHOLD ITEMS - NEW fancy covered coat hangers; crocheted top tea towels, face washers; pillow cases - etc. All must be unused, thanks.
Not to forget our animal friends in shelters etc.
So basically if you can knit, crochet, loom, sew, quilt, embroider , it will be all be most welcome! YARN/MATERIAL (decent size pieces please) is also always needed. Many of our members are on limited pensions so unable to purchase the yarn or material they would like to keep making items for Knitting for Brisbane's Needy. Over the last few years a few members, including Peter and myself have used our own money to buy wool to distribute to members, but as we too are all on pensions, it is just not possible to continue doing so, well not the amount that we were purchasing. So please let everyone you know that we need donations of yarn in particular (preferably full balls but any is appreciated) and material suitable to be used to make clothing and toiletry bags! If you work, know someone that works in an office/factory etc; or you belong to any bowling clubs etc, please ask if their work place/club would be willing to do a “wool” collection for the group! All it takes is a box with a notice above it requesting wool for Knitting for Brisbanes Needy. That would be great, thanks.
PRE LOVED CLOTHING
Unfortunately, WE WILL NO LONGER be able to accept any more pre loved clothing etc, firstly due to limitations on storage available here. However, we can still let you know of organizations who would welcome pre loved clothing and the like. Please make sure though that it is clean, wearable/usable, not stained or beyond repair. I know that you all would anyway, but the organizations have to pay to get rid of any unsuitable items they receive.
THANK YOU
As well as wanting to thank all members again, there are a few thank you's that need to be made. Threads & More, Shop 7/637 Sherwood Road (cnr Oxley Road) , Sherwood for their wonderful donations of sock wool and other wool last year. New owners took over in April, 2009 and they are lovely ladies. They let me walk around and ooh and ahh and touch (!) all the beautiful wool/cottons they stock; silk, pure alpaca and the list goes on! They make beautiful garments too, some of which are for sale. There is also a coffee shop attached to the craft shop, which serves the most delicious coffee/tea/meals etc. If you are around that area, well worth calling in just to have a wander around the shop. They also sell pattern books, needles, and other craft related objects and have lessons!
Triumph International - for their very generous donations of “seconds” bras and underwear, which has been greatly appreciated by many of the less fortunate that we help. Their generosity has been because of one of our members, Gayle from Wynnum works for Triumph. They knew of her involvement with us, and were quite willing to occasionally donate items to us for the organizations we help. Gayle and her co workers also are able to sometimes buy new underwear at very reduced prices and many of them now buy as much as they are allowed, then give it to Gayle to pass on to us!
Marchant Ward, Brisbane City Council - for advertising our group in their newsletter & being a drop off point for donations of wool, etc. Also thanks to a number of individuals who have donated either money, wool, new hand crafted items etc, postage packs, ideas and suggestions!
KNIT AND NATTERS
The knit and natters are still going ahead, with some new venues.
They are now held at Caboolture Library 1st Saturday and 3rd Tuesday of every month. (Contact Karen 54930538)
Beenleigh Library 2nd Friday of every month (contact Bunty 38041316)
Zillmere Community Centre , last Tuesday of every month (contact Dianne 33555813 or Karen 54930538 (except for January which will be 19th January, due to Australia Day being on our “normal day” of 26th January.)
Marsden and Browns Plains (contact Jade 32001168)
Toowoomba Library, Toowoomba, 3rd Tuesday of the month (and other “spur of the moment K and N's) Phone Yvette 45282543 for details.
Victoria Point Library, contact Lynda 0417620661
Northern Rivers NSW - contact Roseanne Stuart, phone (02) 66832155
New knit and natters are being planned at places such as Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast etc.
Most of these places that are generous enough to allow us to hold knit and natters at their premises, are also willing to accept donations for us at other times. Please make sure you have your name, contact details (if you want) in the bag and mark it for Knitting for Brisbanes Needy. Thanks!
SPECIAL PROJECTS
During 2009 we had a couple of `challenges”. One was to make new born, FULL TERM baby beanies for the Mater Hospital. The Neo Natal unit use in excess of 8000 beanies for full term babies. The reason being that babies lose a lot of heat from their heads when first born and as a result many end up in humid cribs, separated from their mothers. The staff have found that if they put a beanie on baby as soon as possible after birth, it significantly decreases the number who have to be put in humid cribs. So this will be ongoing this year as well. If you want to make some newborn beanies specifically for the Mater, please put a note in with them to that effect. Another group, Knit for Charities held a challenge for us making mini Christmas stockings give to disadvantaged children (and some adults) for Christmas. Knitted, crocheted and a few sewn stockings were sent to us. Some had sweets or other things like lip balm, mini deodorants etc in them. For the others Peter and I purchased heaps of candy canes and sweets to put in them! Many thanks to Pam and the members of K4C (a lot of whom are our members as well)! Am hoping they will continue this later in the year for us as well!
At present, Yvette from Toowoomba has a challenge going to get as many blankets, knee rugs, etc as possible for an aged care home at Pittsworth (not far from Toowoomba) who are in need of blankets etc for their patients. Some of the Toowoomba members are also willing to sew squares into blankets, so if you can only do squares, they will still be very happy to receive them. Contact Yvette 45282543 for details.
ALMOST THE END!
Sympathy to those who have lost loved ones and close friends including loved animals!.
To those who are experiencing ill health, hope you are soon feeling better. 2009 has been a bad year health wise for a lot of our members and/or their spouses; children etc. Our thoughts and prayers go out in particular to Angela F; Claire P, Nancy H (Nanna Jack) and her partner Ken; Nanna Jack's daughter Dianne who is also a member; Lynda L's husband Tony, Patricia C (from Caboolture) husband Neil. Of course, any one else as well that I may have missed. Wishing you speedy recoveries.
Congratulations to those of you who have celebrated birthdays, wedding anniversaries, births of children/grandchildren/great grandchildren etc.
Thank you one and all for your continued support in helping the less fortunate of Queensland.
Happy crafting,
Karen Croke
Phone (07) 5493 0538 or 0419829621 |
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