Residential aged care residents are once again leading a unique community initiative to support people experiencing homelessness.
For the third year, residents from ACH Group residential care homes will make mittens and knit gloves and scarves for people supported by charity organisation St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), and they’re looking for the South Australian community to join the cause.
The community is being asked to knit the base pieces of mittens using a supplied pattern and drop the items off at Perry Park Residential Care Home in Port Noarlunga, or ACH Group’s office in Mile End by Friday 8 July 2022. Donations of wool will also be accepted.
From there, residents will sew the pieces together and decorate the mittens ready to be donated to Vinnies. Residents will also knit gloves and scarves, two items that are also in need this winter.
ACH Group CEO Frank Weits said the initiative is a wonderful opportunity for residents to partner with the community and support South Australians experiencing homelessness.
“In the past two years residents, with the help of generous South Australians, have donated more than 200 knitted items to Vinnies and are looking forward to continuing their support in 2022,” he said.
“They are passionate about giving back to those in need and ACH Group is incredibly proud of their community mindfulness.
“The initiative is also a way for residents to create new connections with one another. It’s a regular sight to see groups of residents sitting around the table knitting the items and having a great chat.”
Vinnies Fred’s Van Coordinator Teresa Branch said the charity is really pleased to be receiving the quality knitted goods from the ACH Group community again.
“As we enter the cooler months the beanies, scarves and mittens provide some practical relief from the elements, but the biggest impact for the people who receive them is knowing that they have been knitted with love, and that someone is thinking about them.”
The completed mitten pieces and wool donations can be dropped off or posted by Friday 8 July 2022, to:
ACH Group Perry Park
26 River Road
Port Noarlunga SA 5167
ACH Group Office
22 Henley Beach Road
Mile End SA 5031
Download: Media release – Tight-knit community ready to support homeless