Every Monday morning at Regency Green Aged Care, the sound of knitting needles tapping combines with music from years gone by.
The Wool Club is in full swing creating blankets, scarves and beanies.
Activities Officer Margaret Renn says the club, led by volunteer Di, has been transformative for the 16 men and women who attend.
“All I can tell you is this – when they first started going to Wool Club people weren’t even looking at each other and it’s been almost 12 months now,” she says.
“As time has gone on, they have started to communicate with each other and some of them have become very good friends.
“It gives them a sense of achievement, it gives them independence and it has allowed them to develop friendships with people who have similar interests.
“They get more than just knitting out of it.”
And so do others in the community.
The Wool Club has decided to donate their creations to our Western Adelaide Homelessness Service, with their first donation in March going to the service’s 24-Hour House for young people.
“When they were told the blankets would be put on the young girls’ beds to make their rooms more personal, they were really happy,” Ms Renn says.
“The residents were so pleased to know their work was going to make somebody else’s day better.”
Ms Renn says the only thing missing on donation day was the presence of former club member Carolyn Garland, who was prolific in creating woollen accessories.
However, she says Carolyn would have been happy to know her creations are now being put to good use by our Homelessness Service.
And for now it’s back to work for the Wool Club members, as they create more woollen accessories for their next delivery to help people in need.