Far north knitters support orphan appeal
CAITHNESS scarfs and hats are soon to be heading to the former Cold War eastern bloc after local knitters backed an appeal for woollen goods and toys for orphanages.
Lorna Ross, manageress of Wick Blythswood charity shop, is delighted with the response from Caithness knitters to their annual appeal for items for youngsters in eastern Europe facing a cold winter without their parents.
The Bridge Street shop is packed to the rafters with knitted items and it is looking like there will be a record haul of goods shipped across the continent ahead of the winter kicking in.
“This is the sixth year of our September collection of knitted goods to send to orphanages in eastern Europe for Christmas, and each year the generous folk of Caithness donate more and more knitted goods,” said Mrs Ross.
“Last year we sent over 1600 items and it looks like this year’s total will exceed that.
“In addition to the hundreds of Christmas gift shoe boxes that Caithness sends every year, the knitted goods are a valued gift to those who experience much more harsh winters than we do here in Caithness.”
Mrs Ross praised those who had taken the time and effort to help those in need.
“We are so grateful to our Caithness friends for their all hard work – there must be thousands of hours’ knitting handed in every year,” she said.
“We know how much their kind donations mean to our European friends.”
The knitting appeal closes on October 12 and the Christmas gift shoe boxes, which are filled with sweets, toiletries, stationery and small items of clothing, must be handed in by November 5.
Blythswood Care’s 2009 Shoebox Appeal resulted in 128,000 gift boxes being sent to nine countries in eastern Europe and Asia.
The annual shoe box appeal is supported by schools, churches, workplaces and individuals all over the United Kingdom and the they are handed out by local charities in orphanages, special schools, hospital wards, care homes, gypsy villages and urban slums.