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Garnish Lions Club president Morgan Pardy displays items collected so far this year as part of the club's knitting project. The knitted items will eventually be distributed to the homeless and other vulnerable people in the province. — Contributed
Garnish Lions Club project helps homeless and vulnerable keep warm
GARNISH, N.L. —
Tammy Power has been knitting ever since her grandmother showed her how as a young girl.
“Even when I knit now and the needles are clicking it actually reminds me so much of my nan,” she told The Telegram Wednesday.
As one of the knitters contributing to the Garnish Lions Club’s knitting project, Power is putting her skills to good use to benefit others.
For the last couple of years, the club has spearheaded an effort to collect knitted items for homeless and vunerable people in the province.
While there are limits to how much someone might be able to give financially, Power says, the Lions Club’s initiative allows her to help a good cause in another way.
“When I seen this and that’s exactly what they were doing, donating, I enjoy (knitting), so it worked perfect for me,” the Garnish resident said.
The project has collected hundreds of knitted items so far.
Tammy Power is among the knitters taking part in the Garnish Lions Club initiative to collect knitted clothing items. — Contributed
In 2019, 66 pieces were donated and taken to the Gathering Place in St. John’s, club secretary and project co-ordinator Alvin Cluett said. Another 238 items were donated to the non-profit, community service centre this past December, while 62 more went to Grace Sparkes House in Marystown.
The initiative is already off to a good start this year, with 115 knitted items collected as of last week.
The club also received a donation of 121 knitted hats for infants, said Cluett, adding that all the items have come from 15 contributors.
“When I go to collect, I also take them back wool,” he said.
The project was Garnish Lions Club president Morgan Pardy’s idea. The club’s members agreed, and it went from there, he said.
Pardy said he’s been thrilled with the number of knitted items collected to date, and the club plans to also include the Salvation Army Ches Penney Centre of Hope in St. John’s when the next presentation is made at the end of this year.
Helping people is “what’s it’s all about,” he says.
“I have a saying: ‘You never look down on a person unless you’re looking down to give them a hand to lift them up,’ and that’s my philosophy in life,” Pardy said.
