DARTMOUTH, NS – It may be hard to believe, but with just some yard and a set of knitting needles, a group of volunteers are hoping to help hundreds of people in the Halifax area this winter.
The Take Action Society and the Last House on the Block have stitched themselves together for a new project called Santa Under The Bridge. The project sees dedicated volunteers knit scarves for the less fortunate in the community.
“Some of them are homeless, some of them live in transition houses, some of them suffer from mental illness, some are sex trade workers, some are aboriginals, old people, young people, men, women,” Bernie Schultz, Last House On The Block Society said Monday.
“It’s just to keep the people warm, there’s so many homeless out there that don’t have clothing and don’t have a scarf, a scarf will be a wonderful idea to keep them warm” said Lyssa Peters, Take Action Society.
Every Monday morning the group gather for their weekly knitting club and work toward their goal of knitting 200 scarves over the fall.
As the volunteers will tell you, knitting is no easy task and it can take up to two full days to complete one scarf.
All of the volunteers are special, but one in particular, Carol Innis, stands out. An avid knitter since the age of 16, she has already completed 50 scarves for the Santa Under The Bridge Project.
“This is a good way to get rid of my yarn and help other people stay warm in the winter time,” Innis told Global News.
“It’s a good feeling, it’s a really food feeling in your heart when you help others.”
The group want to add the scarves they make to gift bags with other personal care items. Local youth in the community will help them pass the bags out to those who are less fortunate around the Christmas holidays.
“I would say, If they wake up on Christmas morning and they know that somebody out there cares, it will definitely uplift their spirits,” said Schultz.
Volunteers meet every Monday morning at 2 Chapman Street in Dartmouth for their knitting club. Anyone is welcome to join.
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