Stitch Club of Grande Prairie created over 4,900 items to donate various charities and organizations in Grande Prairie, the Peace Region and throughout Alberta. Photo Credit: Stich Club of Grande Prairie.

By Shane Clausing

record donation

Stitch Club of Grande Prairie donates nearly 5,000 handmade items to local charities

Sep 14, 2021 | 1:20 PM

The Stitch Club of Grande Prairie will be making its biggest donation ever this September for various charities and organizations in Grande Prairie, the Peace Region and Alberta.

The club has been around since 2001. Year-round, a group of members get together and hand knits winter clothing items for those in need.

After a call for extra yarn in September 2020, there were about 30 members helping knit items throughout the year. Since the call for yarn was made, long-time member of the club Anne Sawchuk says they’ve seen interest in the club grow substantially.

“It started out (in 2001) with just a few of us ladies and it just grew from there,” she said. “We now have 41 members after this year thanks in part to promotion last year, a lot of ladies around town had never heard of us and joined.”

She adds local charities in need also began reaching out to them in greater numbers.

“Last year we donated to 17 charities and this year there’s 25 that want our stuff because of the profile we got. There’s more charities stepping forward asking ‘can we get some stuff?’”

Because of the extra members they were able to pick up and the increased demand for products, Sawchuk tells EverythingGP they’ve really cranked up their operations.

“When we started out last January, we had enough yarn for 2021, but we were running out. The donations that have come in since, we now have enough yarn for this year and next year,” she said.

“We normally go through about 5,000 balls of yarn a year, but because of the extra ladies that have joined, that has gone up to 7,000 because they’re making bigger things.”

The Stitch Club of Grande Prairie will be donating its items to the following organizations:

• Baby’s Best Start
• Beaverlodge Family Services Cancer Clinic at Hospital
• City of Edmonton Fire Department
• Coats for Kids
• Cross Cancer Clinic-Edmonton
• Elder Care, Friendship Centre
• Friends of the Grande Spirit Foundation
• Golden Age Centre
• GP Palliative Care Society
• Hythe Food Bank
• Jail
• Northreach Society
• Oasis Church-Mat Program
• Odyssey House
• Rising Above, Ronald McDonald House
• Salvation Army, Teen Shelter
• Various hospitals in the Peace Region
• Wapiti House (formerly Rotary House)
• Willow Place

Sawchuk says these donations would not have been possible without the help of the community.

“We thank the community for their donations. We’ve had cash donations to help buy stuff (as well). It’s wonderful.”

With COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the Stitch Club is getting together weekly every Tuesday from 1:00-3:30 p.m. at the Golden Age Centre to knit.

Sawchuk says everyone is encouraged to come and knit for fun. The knit club has no quota and is just happy with whatever items someone can help knit.

“There is no pressure. The competition is there, but there is no pressure,” Sawchuk joked. “If you make what you make, then you make what you make. If you’re a beginning knitter we’ll teach you. If you are an experienced knitter and only make one thing, I’ll find a home for it.”

Donations of yarn can also be made at the Golden Age Centre. Sawchuk says you can also call her at 780-513-0601 if you would like to give away some yarn.

Cash or gift cards to Michaels are also accepted to help the club purchase supplies.