Stitching kindness across the community

On the third Monday of most months, from February to November, conversation and clicking needles brings the Fellowship Hall of Lindsay’s Cambridge Street Baptist Church to life. This dedicated group uses traditional skills to create items of warmth and comfort.

Their support started as a ripple of kindness in 2016, when congregation member Lynda Chessman was asked to spearhead a charity initiative. The original focus was modest:  two projects – baby beanies for the Leyaata Hospital in Ghana, and pneumonia vests for Dr. Simone’s Toronto-based Canadian Food for Children mission.

Chessman reached out to the community, and her crafting connections, for people interested in knitting and crocheting for charity. Church members Karin Stovell, Hilary Green and Jeannette Bales were the first to join. The group came to be known as Hooks & Needles Lindsay.

Hooks & Needles has blossomed into a network of approximately 500 members, with a global reach. As they grew, so did their focus. Approximately 88,000 pieces were made during Chessman’s nine years as coordinator. With Chessman’s retirement, Marilyn Hayford and Jeannette Bales committed to continue the group’s mandate.

“Many dedicated volunteers have helped to ignite and grow Lynda’s passion to serve others,” says Bales. “And volunteers continue to be a vital part of this ongoing work.” Volunteers that have come to include machine knitters, some quilters and a few men.

Today, meetings see upwards of 45 members in attendance. It’s more than an opportunity for pickups, drop offs and sharing wisdom. Members entertain free guest speakers from such places as Hospice Care, and Quilts for Cancer. Members share insights on topics like gardening, and the colour wheel.

Many are blessed by the donations received. Banana boxes are filled with much-needed supplies, including blankets and sweaters. Items like puppets and wash clothes are made for more than 150 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes sent out each November.

In Kawartha Lakes, the group is kept busy filling requests from senior centres and homes for wheelchair blankets, shawls, fidget balls, etc. They continue to fill specific needs for A Place Called Home, Kawartha Lakes Pregnancy Centre and some local schools.

Hooks and Needles have been participating in the Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls Poppy Projects. To date they have created more than 1,800 poppies for November displays in the two villages. Volunteers also make veteran blankets with attached poppies for donation to branches of the Royal Canadian Legions.

“The cost of yarn has doubled over the last two years, and it becomes a challenge to replenish our supplies and, at the same time, cover the needs of ever-increasing places to serve,” explains Bales.

Donations of new yarn are always welcome to help supply volunteers. Acrylic yarn is requested by mission partners as it does not require additional laundering care. Soft acrylic baby yarn is used for newborn beanies. Soap bags, washcloths, hair accessories and some toys are made from cotton yarn.

Hooks and Needles remains dependent upon individual offers of time or financial aid. Fundraisers and monetary donations boost the resources needed to keep the group in operation. A team of drivers travels up to an hour, providing delivery and pickup.

“We’ve outgrown our present space for storage and are presently searching for the best way to deal with this pleasant problem,” explains Bales. The group has explored different avenues but their desire to keep monthly meetings at the church leaves options limited.

Individuals wishing information about Hooks & Needles Lindsay may call the church at 705-324-4712 or email Jeannette Bales at , or visit their Facebook page.