04 Nov 2019
To date we are up to 87 blankets with at least 12 in waiting, that’s 2436 squares, or 6,090,000 stitches! Our team in the beginning said, “Let’s aim for 20+ blankets”!! And it’s looking like we will make the 100 mark!!!!!
We had 347 people sign up from Queensland to Wagga, Port Macquarie to Wollongong, and many areas of Sydney. The project made new heights on Singapore Airlines from Sydney to Singapore thanks to Lai Coates, and the far-away lands of England and France with Tessa Milne.
We are very grateful to Janine and Deb from The Skein Sisters at Dulwich Hill and Laura from The Wool Room in Young, NSW.
Some knitted one square, feature squares, striped squares, some knitted ten or a blanket’s worth, and some have passed the 100 mark! To each and every one of you we say THANKYOU! We couldn’t have done it without you!
As promised, we made 3 separate deliveries to Woolloomooloo to people who are homeless, partnering with Orange Sky laundry. We met some amazing individuals- those that took the blankets were very appreciative as were those who denied the offer. They made comments like “they are very beautiful”, “what you are doing is very kind” and “there’s a lot of love in those blankets”.
We also met with the executive from NBWS and donated 25 blankets for the women, with the arrangement being that when they leave the Shelter they take the blanket with them. Kim, a coordinator, said the women were.
To say we were amazed with the level of participation from the community is an understatement. We have met so many wonderful and kind people who are willing to give to others. Many of you are here today.
Our vision for this project was to:
- Connect with people in the community
- ‘Pay it Forward’ to those who are homeless
- Increase a sense of purpose in our students and each other
- Bring community together
- Increase awareness of the hospital school’s commitment to wellbeing strategies
- Support and value the collaborative partnership between community and school
We are extremely grateful for everyones time, skills, care, and love that have gone into these beautiful blankets. It truly has been an uplifting project. Research shows that giving increases wellbeing more than receiving. By contributing to other people’s happiness we improve our own wellbeing.
Our school strategic directions and one of our trademark’s is to provide innovative and collaborative projects.