Knitting to help needy
HAVING a skill that can positively change the lives of thousands of homeless people is as simple as having a pair of knitting needles and some wool.
Glass House Mountains resident Karen Croke has proved the meaning of selfless when she began knitting for people less fortunate than herself seven years ago.
Soon her work expanded through word of mouth and the power of social media, as Karen's knitting went from her hands into more than 500 sets of others throughout south-east Queensland.
The group of members are now known as the Knit and Natters and for their work making more than 180,000 knitted items in the past seven years, they have recently won themselves a $5000 grant from Sunsuper's Dream for a Better World competition.
Karen, a retiree, said winning the grant was exciting, but it was the response she gained from the homeless that made her knitting worthwhile.
"We enjoy what we do, but we love that what we do helps those in need," she said.
"For me the look on people's faces when we give them an item, whether it's a blanket, scarf or toy for a child, which has been personally knitted for them, makes everything we do worthwhile. A lot of people ask why we do what we do, and it's because we can."
The Knit and Natters group knit, crochet and natter for homeless people throughout the country, with the vast majority of donations going to Brisbane's needy.
They currently have groups which meet weekly or monthly in Beenleigh, Caboolture, Deception Bay, Narangba, Zillmere, Forest Glen, Hervey Bay, Indooroopilly and other parts of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Karen said the $5000 Sunsuper grant would go directly to covering wool and postage costs, with most of the Knit and Natters items delivered personally by her and husband Peter.
If anyone would like to join the Knit and Natters group call Karen on 54930538 or email kcroke@bigpond.net.au.
