Springfield Yarners give a gift of warmth

More than a dozen homeless women received a personal gift of warmth from the Springfield Yarners when they handed over 13 knitted blankets to the Salvation Army today, Monday 28 July 2008.

The yarners have been meeting weekly at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Springfield campus to knit strips of yarn to be sewn together to make blankets for several months.

Club coordinator and USQ Education Lecturer Nicole Todd said the support from the Brisbane and Ipswich communities had been overwhelming.

'As well as our regular knitters meeting here at the University every week we had many people knitting strips at home and dropping them in to us to be sewn together,' Ms Todd said.

'Lots of people have also dropped balls of wool at the University to be used by the yarners. I have been just thrilled with the support we have been given.

'There are a lot of kind hearted people in our local community who put their knitting needles to good use to help those less fortunate.

'There has been so many cold nights of late and it is wonderful to think soon people who really need it will be able to experience the comfort of a hand knitted blanket to keep them warm,' she said.

'It was a great opportunity for more people in the Brisbane and Ipswich communities to meet and make friends while enjoyed an hour of knitting, socialising and giving back to the community. Thank you to everyone who knitted strips or dropped in wool to us, it has been put to good use.'

Salvation Army Captain Miriam Sutcliffe said the blankets would be given to women staying in Salvation Army Crisis Accommodation centres.

'The women will be able to use the blankets while in crisis accommodation and they can take them with them when they leave to go to their new homes,' Captain Sutcliff said.

'To see the look on their faces when they receive the blankets is unbelievable. Thanks to the Springfield Yarners for all their hard work, it really is appreciated.'

Ms Todd said the Springfield Yarners were both experienced knitters and people who had never picked up a knitting needle before.

The Springfield Yarners will continue to knit blankets, meeting on Mondays from 1pm to 2pm at the University of Southern Queensland, Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central in the staff common room on Level 6.

Media Contact:  Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979