Introduction

The Rotary Club of Mont Albert & Surrey Hills has established a “Knitting and Woollies Program” with two new elements introduced in 2008/9. This project is managed by the Club’s Community & Wellbeing Committee.

Project Description

The Knitting & Woollies Program originated with the clubs Inala Link project which has been operating for three years. Our club provides wool for residents and staff of Allawarra Lodge at Inala to knit or crochet blankets and soft toys which are donated to the Rotary Club for distribution to projects. At the handover, we always provide a morning or afternoon tea – being at Easter, June/July and Christmas.
This year, two enhancements to the project have evolved as a result of the Clubs strategic planning activity. The first is to have a Knitting For the Needy which expands the hostels involved and builds a bank of knitters; sources providers of wool or fund through club fundraising with the recipients providing advice on the types of items required and ideal timing of these.
The second enhancement has been to have a public collection of Woollies utilising the Whitehorse Farmers Market as the forum. This was completed in April with an excellent level of donations received and ultimately distributed to the Strathewen Relief Centre and some to St Vincent De Paul Soup Van. Poor quality blankets went to the Guide Dogs.