But now, they are running out of yarn.For the past year, a group of avid Richmond knitters has banded together to help keep Richmond Food Bank clients cozy during the winter months by making a growing collection of scarves and toques that are handed out during the cold months, as part of a winter relief pack.
Judy Ying Sun, office manager for the Food Bank who coordinates the group, the told the News there are roughly 65 knitters involved and their efforts have tapped out pretty much the whole supply of donated materials that has come from individuals, other knitting groups and churches.
To reach the targeted goal of 1,200 scarves and toques she hopes to find some new resources.
“There are homeless people who are cold and need the scarves and toques during the winter,” she said. “We can’t just say, ‘Sorry, we don’t have any more.”
The warm knitwear is handed out during one week in either late November or early December, said Alex Nixon, the food bank’s communications and outreach coordinator. In addition to the scarves and torques other items such as soaps and moisturizer are put into the packs.
While the items go a long way to making life a little easier during the chilly weather, those doing the knitting also get a return for their volunteer efforts, Sun said.
“The knitting is very beneficial for a lot of people,” she said, adding a good number of volunteers are looking for ways to contribute back to the community but don’t know how. This gives them something to focus on.”
“It also provides a social boost for the volunteers who gather each month at the food bank to bring in their work.
“That’s when we share our ideas and have a lunch together,” Sun said, adding some of the knitters are very competitive and want to not only turn out a decent number of items but take great pride in producing well-made scarves and toques.
Plus, there are some beginning knitters who are never short of getting advice from the more experienced members in the group. Sun also held workshops for those wanting to learn.
“And we even had one volunteer say that this was a way of making a present for their own daughter,” Sun said. “She was going to use her knitting skills and make a scarf as a gift.”
“This knitting group is a great way for people to get involved,” Nixon said. “They may not want to be here and give out food directly, but they do want to help their neighbours in need. This group allows people to contribute in a different and very valuable way. The volunteers get the social aspect of the knitting group and it’s an opportunity to help the community.”
But with a current shortage of donated yarn Sun said she is not sure if this year’s target will be met.
“I’ve already got about 800 and I don’t know where the material will come from for the remaining 400,” she said.
“It’s hard. We asked so many groups last year for assistance that we are finding there’s not much left out there,” Sun added. “And our volunteers are calling us asking if there’s any knitting to do.”
“And we don’t have the funds to buy the yarn,” Nixon said.
Sun said if anyone wants to donate yarn to the food bank they can call 604-271-5609.
