Redcliffe parishioners knitting rugs for vulnerable women and kids
Features
“We are blessed to have a regular team of Branch members and parishioners who all contribute to our rug-knitting project. Some prefer to knit individual squares, with others lovingly sewing together the squares or crocheting matching borders. Other volunteers handmake complete rugs. Patterns and helpful hints are available for anglican focus readers who wish to assist,” say Parish of Redcliffe Mothers Union Branch members, Robyn Francis and Alison Dunstan
Our Parish of Redcliffe Mothers Union Branch President, Alison Dunstan, has been the principal co-ordinator for organising the creation and distribution of knitted rugs for Anglicare over the last eight years. One of the objectives of Mother Union is “to help those whose family life has met with adversity”.
It is through our Mothers Union Branch that Alison became involved with this valuable project, which is a significant and much-valued ministry for people in the community who are in need. We estimate that our Branch has handmade well over one hundred rugs so far. Many other Mothers Union branches in our Diocese also donate rugs to this valuable outreach initiative.
We are blessed to have a regular team of Branch members and parishioners who all contribute to our rug-knitting project. Some prefer to knit individual squares, with others lovingly sewing together the squares or crocheting matching borders. Other volunteers handmake complete rugs. Patterns and helpful hints are available for anglican focus readers who wish to assist with creating these rugs.
Mothers Union Redcliffe Branch members have been creating these beautiful knitted rugs for Anglicare’s services over the last eight years
As this is an ongoing need in the community, our ladies make as many or as few rugs as their time allows. We often gather together to knit the rugs. During this period of COVID-19 restrictions, the project has continued with volunteers knitting at home or together socially distanced. From time to time we organise a morning tea as a “thank you gesture” for our band of merry helpers.
We at Mothers Union’s Redcliffe Branch have a special connection with Anglicare in Caboolture. Over the years we have donated toiletries and household items for their families in need. The knitted rugs also go to the children in their out-of-home-care program. Along with the rugs, Redcliffe parishioners donate toys and gifts for these families at Christmas. As we spread the word that “donations are required”, our prayers are rapidly answered as parishioners and friends answer the call with much generosity and enthusiasm.
The rugs are also donated to Anglicare’s Homelessness Services Supportive Accommodation for Women at Toowong in Brisbane. The Toowong service provides crisis accommodation for 18 single women, who are unaccompanied by a child or partner, and are experiencing homelessness.
In addition, Anglicare offers similar support for 16- to 25-year-old women and their young children and single pregnant women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Before the rugs are delivered to Anglicare’s services, they are placed in our church where Parish of Redcliffe rector The Rev’d Graheme Baldock blesses them and prays for the people who receive them.
We also have another project with knitters creating colourful warm beanies and scarves for seafarers that we donate to The Mission to Seafarers at the Port of Brisbane. These items are included in seafarer “care packages”, which are much appreciated since the seafarers travel world-wide, often experiencing the Northern Hemisphere winter. Other donated items such as playing cards; magazines (Australian Geographic is especially popular); sweets; notebooks; and crosswords are all very helpful for these packages.
If you would like to be sent patterns and helpful hints for making the rugs, please email Alison Dunstan from the Parish of Redcliffe.
Jump to next article
