FOR more than 20 years, the Swan Hill community has donated thousands of blankets to those in need.
The Wrap With Love organisation is based in Sydney and sees communities from all over Australia donate blankets knitted by its members.
In Swan Hill, there are about 50 ladies who participate in the project.
In their spare time, they knit wool into small squares, which are then sewn into blankets.
These are sent to Sydney where the non-profit organisation distributes them to countries in need.
Swan Hill local Helen Dean has been participating in the project for more than 20 years and loves it.
“It has given many of us something to do in our spare time,” she said.
“I have had many of ladies say that they are thankful for the project as they have something to knit for.
“We get squares of all types, with many different colours.
“A lot of the ladies will use any wool they can get and make a nice colourful square just out of short pieces of wool.”
Ms Dean said the making of the blankets was just the first step, with a local transport company helping to deliver them to Wrap With Love in Sydney, so they could get to those in need.
“We have been so lucky to have Pickering’s Transport who deliver them for us for free,” she said.
“We can just drop off the boxes at the depot and they’ll always say they can put them on the next truck going up there.”
“They have just been so kind, we are very, very appreciative of their ongoing support.”
With squares constantly being made, Ms Dean said the group always welcomed wool donations.
Anyone is welcome to get involved with the knitting.
The squares are given to Swan Hill local Mary Cleary who sews them together.
With many different sizes coming in, Ms Dean said Ms Clearly always did a “brilliant job” in putting the blankets together.
“We don’t knock back any of the squares,” Ms Dean said.
“We finish them off by crocheting around the blanket. It gives it a nice finish,” Ms Cleary said.
Ms Dean’s husband Alan has also been a wonderful helping hand, packing the blankets into boxes since the Swan Hill group started more than 20 years ago.
Over the years, the group has lost count of the number of squares made, but Ms Dean reminisced on the day that a knitter told her she had just made her 1000th square.
In just the past few months the group has alone sent 150 blankets to Sydney.
With a great socialising aspect, a couple of times a year a ‘knit-in’ is held.
The next one is coming up on June 16 at the St Mary’s Parish Centre.
Starting from 10am, Ms Dean said all were welcome to attend with the option of staying for as long or as little as anyone liked.
“It’s a nice social gathering for the women, they really enjoy it,” she said.
“Knowing they are helping others I think is a really big incentive for them.”
Sometimes the team will also receive information from the Wrap With Love organisation on where the blankets sent from Swan Hill were distributed.
This is shared at the knit-ins.
“It is really nice to get that information,” she said.
“The blankets are nice and warm, and they are so grateful over there for them.”
Since beginning in 1992, nationwide the organisation has sent more than 323,000 blankets to over 75 countries.
