Keighley News
Community to be knitted together
8:30am Monday 6th February 2012
Knitting sessions for good causes are set to become a regular occurrence at a Keighley church.
From next week people are invited to take part in the weekly craftwork sessions at Worth Valley Church, in Queens Road.
Knitting group member Elva Young, 48, said she and about ten other people had been making items to donate or sell for charity but hoped to take on more volunteers once the ‘Knit, Stitch and Sew Crew’ gatherings begin.
She said: “I am a member of the church and have for the past four years been raising funds for Airedale special care baby unit. We’ve also been buying Christmas gifts for the hospital’s children’s ward and we support the [Keighley] Salvation Army, as well as trying to help the wider community.
“I myself am disabled and am not able to work. I used to be in customer services at Hallmark Cards but had to stop about five-and-a-half to six years ago. I didn’t want to be sat around at home bored and doing nothing.”
She said that at Christmas 2010 and 2011 the group put together food parcels for the local Salvation Army branch and would now like to start using the church as a base from which to deliver more parcels.
Youngsters from the church’s Sunday School group have also been helping out with the fundraising.
Ms Young, who lives in Westgate Gardens, Keighley, added: “We realise that there is a need for this at the moment, especially because of the economic situation. We don’t want people to throw away things which they could donate to us instead.
“We go to businesses in Keighley and ask them if they can spare any materials which we then use. Nothing is wasted. We knit blankets, cardigans, dolls, hats - all sorts of things.
“We’ll be continuing to knit for the special care baby unit. Most of us are retired or disabled and it’s all voluntary. I want to say thank you to the local shops and people who volunteer to help.”
She highlighted donations made by Argos, Asda, Morrisons and stalls in Keighley Market Hall.
The first of the new knitting sessions will be at the church from 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Tuesday.