BEAUTIFUL – Outreach Committee Chair Penny Ericson and volunteer Rose MacDonald delightedly show off some of the many scarves, hats, mittens, socks, and lap robes handcrafted by two generous women from Nova Scotia who wanted to help make Christmas brighter for people in need in Fredericton. The items will be distributed at the Monday morning drop-in December 18th along with other Christmas goodies.
How long would it take you to handcraft 41 hats, 38 scarves, four pairs of mittens, four pairs of socks, and three lap robes?
In my case, it would take until the 12th of Never to create 90 items because I lack talent and patience to knit or crochet.
For two women from the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, it took only a few months, and they accomplished the task on top of making lovely things for their family and friends, tending large vegetable gardens, and living busy lives.
This Christmas the cathedral’s Monday morning guests will be the recipients of beautiful and useful items handmade by Mary Coffill Deveau of Kentville and her friend, Trina Long, who lives at Sunken Lake near Wolfville.
It’s not the first Christmas they have presented such a generous gift to people in need in Fredericton – people neither woman has ever met.
“We enjoy making things, and we love helping people,” says Mary, adding “everyone deserves something warm and pretty to wear in the harsh cold of winter.”
Mary and Trina frequently knit and crochet for organizations in the Annapolis Valley that help the poor, but she has heard much about the cathedral’s Monday morning drop-in from her sister-in-law, Ann Deveau, who volunteers with the program.
We thought it would be fun to help because that’s what Christmas is all about, isn’t it?” Mary asks. “Give from your heart to people less fortunate than yourself.
The Outreach Committee is extremely grateful for the huge donation of colourful knit and crochet items which were shared with guests at a Christmas gathering on Monday morning, Dec. 18th. The gift bags also contained a Christmas card, gift card, candy, toiletries, socks, and cookies homemade by parishioners at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church. Small gift bags with goodies for children will be provided by parishioners from New Maryland United Church.
Ann Deveau