Two local knitting groups ‘Orange Purlers’ and ‘Craft with Love (Kenna Hall Knitters)’ have come together for a handover of over 150 handmade blankets for NSW bushfire victims.

Craft with Love Coordinator, Sue Moffatt noticed an appeal for blankets on the ‘giveit’ website, a community hub connecting those who have, with those who need. With Sue’s intuition leading the way, our dedicated volunteer knitters have given families the gift of warmth for winter.

Manager of Step by Step recovery support service, Anne Crestani picked up many of the blankets last week, with a vow she will be back for more. Anne explained, “We are so grateful for such beautiful and such a large number of blankets donated from Orange.

“Bushfire victims living in temporary accommodation whether it be in caravans or tents in most locations are getting very cold this time of year.

“Many families have lost a lot of basic things like their bedding and their linen, or its been smoke damaged so they’ve had to throw them out. In a lot of cases people are having to start again. Recovery from a disaster is a full-time job.

With Covid-19 over the top of that, it has really compounded people’s trauma. I think a lot of families that have been impacted by the fires feel like Covid-19 has taken the focus, they are still in the early stages of recovery, so, these are also messages that you are not forgotten, the community is still thinking of you and you are still in everyone’s hearts and thoughts. This sort of thing is much more personalised and can often be really symbolic.”

Three of Anne’s teams will work to distribute the wraps to Olinda, Lithgow, Dargan, Clarence, the Blue Mountains (Bell, Mt Tomah, Mt Wilson), Blackheath, Bilpin, Kurrajong, Colo Heights and St Albans. “It is a really large area that we are covering, but that was the natures of the fires.
People are incredible, they are amazing, and within the communities themselves they have helped each other a lot.”

Orange Purlers Coordinator, Dianne Percy said, “Being involved in something like this gives you a ‘feel-good feeling.’ It makes you feel that you’ve done something productive and you get a sense of pride knowing that someone is going to get value out of what you create, it’s comfort and it’s warmth for those rebuilding their lives. I love knitting for causes like this, it never feels like a chore, it gives me so much enjoyment and its relaxing for me too.”

Well done to all of our local knitters involved.