Knitting group helps hundreds of people in need of rugs

A WARDELL knitting group has distributed more than 70 handmade rugs during the colder months of winter, helping growing numbers of homeless and disadvantaged people in the region.

The Knit n’ Knat group supplies rugs to community organisations including the Mental Health Support Group, the Ballina Women’s Refuge, the Ballina Hot Meal Centre and Mary’s Place.

Since 2011, Dawn and Robert Sword have made an annual visit to the group at the Wardell and District War Memorial Hall.

They collect handmade blankets, beanies and scarves to distribute to people in need across the region.

“They’re beautifully done; they rely on donations and supply of wool to keep making as many as they do,” Ms Sword said.

“They just keep knitting and knitting so they’re ready to go each winter.

“We’re getting a lot of people coming into the hot meal centre and we’ve been distributing plenty of blankets and beanies.

“They’re a very special group who have done a lot for the wider community.”

The group donated its first blankets, crafted from 200 knitted squares, to the Salvation Army in Woodburn in 2004.

Since then it has supported flood and fire victims, children with disabilities and disadvantaged families.

Knit n’ Knat meets every Thursday between 9am and noon at the memorial hall.

New members are welcome and can join by contacting Sue Steel on 6683 4994 for more information.