Wrapped with love

For a group of caring Newtown volunteers, delivering the gift of compassion and warmth to those in need is as simple as knitting one loving square at a time.

Two knitting groups hosted by Newtown Neighbourhood Centre are part of the Australian-based Wrap With Love project.  This not for profit organisation provides warm blanket wraps to people around the world suffering trauma and extreme cold.

Since 1992 Wrap With Love volunteers around Australia have handcrafted over 157,000 wraps, distributing them to the disadvantaged in more than 30 countries.

The Newtown Wrap With Love groups kicked off in 2004 when a $200 Council grant for Seniors Week was spent on knitting supplies.

Newtown volunteer Gerri said the experience has been very rewarding for her.  “It is amazing to see a refugee draped in the wraps we have made right here.  I never thought I would enjoy knitting so much!” she said.

Fellow volunteer Pat said she had become obsessive about knitting the squares.  “I try and knit a square a day whenever I can because this really is positively affecting people’s lives,” she said.

Each wrap consists of 28, ten-inch squares sewn together following a standard garter stitch pattern.  In 2006 the Newtown ladies, and one gentleman, completed 106 wraps.  That’s about 15,000 volunteer hours!

Newtown Neighbourhood Centre knitting groups rely on donations of wool to produce wraps and jumpers for newborns with AIDS. They also encourage home-based volunteer knitters who are unable to attend the centre in person. 

If you cannot knit, don’t despair - the patient volunteers are well versed in assisting beginners!

So grab your knitting needles and yarn and join Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s inspiring volunteers as they wrap the world with love.

To volunteer or donate wool visit the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre website for details or call 02 9516 4755.

Join some of the Newtown volunteers on Friday August 1^st for the 2008 Knit In hosted by ABC Radio 702 at their Ultimo studio.  Last year the Knit In produced 147,000 knitted squares!