We continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoon of each month, from 2.00 pm until 3.30pm. Over the past few months we have had a number of new members who have joined us, after having seen the poster in the porch. I recently registered our group with the UK Hand Knitting Association and we have already had the first enquiry about joining us and so, we are hopeful our numbers will grow during 2016,
During the past year, we have been busy knitting clothes for premature and neo-natal babies and a large parcel was recently delivered to the Special Care Baby Unit of Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, Hammersmith – much to their delight.
We also delivered 60 beanie hats that had been knitted to Ickenham URC. These hats were enclosed in some of the shoe boxes the Ickenham congregation were collecting for Operation Christmas Child ready for Christmas. Each shoe box contains small presents, and other useful items (eg toothbrush, comb, soap) that will be given to children around the world. This is something Ickenham URC have been doing for several years together with other churches and schools etc across the London Borough of Hillingdon. An incredible 4313 shoe boxes were filled and donated to Operation Christmas Child by churches and schools across the London Borough of Hillingdon in 2015 – an amazing figure! The boxes were sent by Operation Christmas Child to children in Iraq, Romania and Ukraine.
We have continue knitting squares/strips that will be made into blankets for the homeless – Acton Homeless Concern are always pleased to receive these beautifully warm blankets – especially at this time of year when it is so cold for those sleeping on our streets.
We have also supported Homestart, a local charity which helps needy and disadvantaged families set up home and prepare for the arrival of a new baby, by giving them a large parcel of knitted items for babies and young children.
Scarves, wraps, shawls, knee blankets etc have flown off the needles of our knitters during this past year. Therefore, I shall also be contacting the Palliative Support Worker at Meadow House Hospice to ask it they too would like to receive some of the items we have made to be given to their patients and/or their families.
Therefore, if you know of anyone who is ill, bereaved or distressed – or someone who is lonely – in fact, anyone you know who needs a woollen ‘hug’ and would welcome receiving one of our hand-knitted items please let me know.
Finally, if you – or someone you know – have any unwanted wool that you are willing to donate to us please, we shall be very happy to take it off your hands.
Marion McNeill
