Knitters for Neechewagon

On Sunday, October 30, at 12:15 pm, we celebrated the Knitters in the Kirk Session Room. Much of their 2011 production will be on display - this Christmas they'll surpass the 1,000 mark for mittens, caps and scarves to fend off the winter cold in Saskatoon. We hope you'll join us. 

Saskatoon winters are cold, and especially bleak for the homeless and poor. A group of ladies at St. Andrew and St. Paul gather once a month to knit mittens, scarves, sweaters and caps for those cared for by the Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry. These devoted ladies have produced hundreds of items over the past three years, all shipped with love to our friends in Saskatoon.

Moira Barclay-Fernie recalls how it began, and continues, as a gesture of Christian love.

"It all started because a few yeas ago I did a lot of knitting to use up spare wool at home and asked Rev. Folster if he would like the items. He replied that he could use any amount of such articles.  I put a note in InsideOut asking if people would donate wool and if others would knit and so our group was born. I never intended this to happen, but look what did. Males have contributed too - one man bought up wool and needles at a church sale, another gave a donation and yet another arranges and pays for the mailing of the goods to Saskatoon. The Choir got involved by supplying wrapping for the Christmas parcels. Another benefit is that a group has started which allows people to socialize whilst they meet every month and this has meant new friendships have developed. 

"It's important to note that this project is not financed in any way by church funds but by donations of wool, and has no formal structure and everybody pitches in to do what they do best from organizing the stock of wool to tea making, to cookie donating for the tea time! The whole two hours of the meeting is full of passing on useful hints about this and that, speaking about current events, church matters and caring for one another especially when someone is absent.

"For Christmas 2010, the Knitters shipment included 50 parcels for women and 50 for men with two articles and a card from the Church School children in each Christmas-wrapped parcel plus a few extras for Stewart's emergency box."