Do you knit?

Kate Stocks explains how to help those in need

Have you any spare double knitting wool?

For some time now I have been involved in a project run by Christian Hope International. This charity was started in 1994 in response to the genocide in Rwanda. Thousands had fled from their homes to ill-equipped camps in neighbouring countries. In 1994 a container of aid was sent to the Goma refugee camp in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and since that first shipment nearly seventy 20ft containers containing over 1,000 tons of aid have been sent to 15 countries.

Other projects have included the sponsorship of children in Africa and India together with the repair, refurbishment or building of schools, orphanages and homes for the blind. Christian Hope has also built homes for child-led families in Rwanda and bought, equipped and delivered ambulances and mobile clinics to areas of need.

There is one particular project that I have supported in a very positive way since 2007. This is called Stitches of Hope and involves knitting and I thought that it might be something that might appeal to others at St Mary’s and St Anne’s. Stitches of Hope send large boxes of knitted goods to those in need overseas. Recent boxes have been sent for distribution in Eastern Europe as well as African countries.

A simple pattern for various suitable garments is available, from the charity’s office. However, rather than knitting complete garments, I have spent my time knitting squares from oddments and assembling these squares into blankets, both large (96 squares) and small (48 squares), suitable for both single beds and cots. With help from my mother and some friends I have so far sent four single blankets and know that one went to Romania whilst another was sent to Juba in Sudan.

Could you help?

This is a very practical way of offering help and, in these credit-crunch times, it does not need to cost a lot. There are three ways in which you could help:

Do you have any left over double knitting wool that you could contribute? (Not white since this is the colour of mourning in some African countries) Even small amounts will be very welcome.
Might you be able to knit some squares for us? (Patterns included as an insert and more available at the back of both churches)
Could you help to sew up any completed squares?

There will be a box at the back of both churches from the beginning of February into which you can put any wool or completed squares. If you need wool with which to knit squares please help yourself to what is there and then replace with your completed knitting. It may take a few weeks to get this project off the ground but I hope that it will be ongoing. Thank you in anticipation for your hard work and support for this way of showing the love of Christ to those in need.

See Stitches of Hope for more information about Christian Hope International or the Stitches of Hope project.

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