An Age Concern Hauraki Coromandel call for knitted woollen squares for blankets has seen a huge nationwide response resulting in hundreds of blankets and dozens of quilts for those in need.
Community engagement and fundraising co-ordinator Jo Sanderson said a display of blankets, quilts and knitted squares was held at their office in the Thames Civic Centre on June 21 as part of the inaugural campaign.
“It was absolutely unbelievable, it was incredible – people’s generosity has just been absolutely outstanding, some of the quilts were just exquisite,” she said.
“When you’re hard up and you haven’t got money, people are really generous in giving you things, but they’re usually second hand, which is great. But now, someone’s going to get something that’s brand new and really beautiful, and I just think it adds that extra little special touch for someone receiving it – they’re going to just feel so wonderful getting this beautiful item.”
Age Concern had 125 blankets on display and had already given some out, she said. There were also a lot to come in and hundreds of squares still to be put together to make more.
“I’ve had courier parcels from the bottom of the South Island come up with blankets in them… all over New Zealand.
“People have loved the fact that the blankets are staying here… this is tangible, this is going to our people and I think that’s what’s touched the heart of everybody.”
Jo is currently delivering the blankets to medical centres and agencies to pass on to their clients.
She said there was a “huge need” for the blankets, which were being distributed to people of all ages.
“We haven’t been age-discriminative – we’ve got children’s blankets right up to the older so we’re catering to anyone that needs some warmth.”
The campaign is now ongoing, with donations of 17cm by 17cm knitted squares being accepted throughout the year so they can have the blankets in stock for people who wanted them, she said.
Age Concern now needed volunteers to crochet or knit the squares into blankets.
“The thing that’ll be needed most now is some more people to actually help to join the squares, we’ve got so many.”
The simplicity of the campaign had contributed to its success, she said.
“So many knitters have said ‘I just love knitting squares without having to think about big projects’, there are so many who will just keep ticking over slowly, which is going to be perfect.”
Because the organisation doesn’t receive government funding, it was currently also running a “5 For 5” fundraising campaign, where donations of $5 per week can be made for five weeks.
The campaign was to raise money to go towards celebrating The International Day of the Older Person, which included stalls, dancing and activities at the Thames Civic Centre on October 2, she said.
DETAILS: For more information, visit: www.achc.org.nz/donate-now.
