Women supporting women.
Eleven seniors in Port Coquitlam worked tirelessly this past year to create warm clothing and blankets, and recently sold them to benefit a local transitional housing organization.
In total, the Astoria Retirement Residence Knitting Circle raised $1,795 from their annual craft fair and auction for the Tri-City Transitions Society.
The non-profit helps women and children leaving domestic violence or abuse by providing emergency shelter, housing and other services to about 1,500 families each year across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.
"We’re proud of these achievements, especially when the [COVID-19] pandemic meant we couldn’t have visitors take part," said knitting circle member Sonja Archbold in an email to the Tri-City News via Astoria resident Jim Peacock.
"We’ll be knitting through the holiday season and every day in 2022."
The other 10 group participants are (in alphabetical order):
- Anne Conway
- Renata Hartman
- Diane Kennedy
- Audrey Lactin
- Therese Lamb
- Anne Marie Mattman
- Jessie Richmond
- Bette Stirling
- Isobel Straghan
- Irene Williams
The ladies — who range from the late 70s to early 90s — sat in front of Astoria's main fireplace week after week stitching row upon row of wool to make clothing for infants, as well as mittens, blankets, toys and other soft goods.
Creations in 2021 were provided to Nurses Without Borders to help young children coming out of surgeries.
Earlier this year, the Astoria Knitters also made 13 lap blankets and delivered them to the Fellburn Care Centre in Burnaby for its long-term care residents.
The Astoria Retirement Residence in Port Coquitlam is located at 2245 Kelly Ave.
You can click here to learn more about the Tri-City Transitions Society.
