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Photo Courtesy Stitch Club of Grande Prairie
By Tanner Smith
Community donation

Stitch Club of Grande Prairie sets new donation record

Sep 18, 2025 | 1:14 PM

As the winter months approach, the Stitch Club of Grande Prairie has made its annual donations of warm sweaters, blankets, and other knitted items to over 40 local organizations.

Club President Anne Sawchuk says 67 ladies put in over 28,000 hours of work to ensure that 7,086 items could be given to Peace Region residents who need them most.

“That is the most that we have ever done, it’s 584 more than we did last year, it’s just incredible.”

Photo Courtesy Stitch Club of Grande Prairie

Sawchuk says a boost in their numbers over the last year has definitely helped, having only 58 members last year, and now adding another nine, “that adds a whole lot of good fingers.”

A significant part of the club’s growth has come from a younger generation. What started as a group of retired women wanting to make a difference, has now evolved into a family affair, with seven Mother-Daughter pairs and a Grandmother-Granddaughter.

“We call them our satellite knitters (daughters & granddaughters) because most of them are still working, so they knit, crochet or sew on their own time, and then once a month, I get together with them and give them more materials and they give me what they made.”

Due to this injection of youth, Sawchuk says they have started a Facebook page, where anyone interested in joining the group or following along with their progress can visit and reach out.

Photo Courtesy Stitch Club of Grande Prairie

This year, thanks to an increase in numbers, the club went through an estimated 11,500 balls of yarn and are now in “desperate” need of donations for next year.

“55 North Community Center, but it’s the Golden Age Center over by St. Paul, they have agreed to be our drop-off spots for fabric and yarn and whatever paraphernalia that goes along with both of those, and then we pick it up every Thursday.”

Sawchuk says donations of bottles are being accepted at local bottle depots as well, by using the number 2280.

Residents can also give donations of cash, gift cards, cheque, or arrange a pick-up of donations by calling 780-505-2252.

Sawchuk added, that thanks to 10 local community sponsors, the Stitch Club is now a registered charity and can issue tax receipts.

A full list of all organizations that received a knitted donation provided by the Stitch Club of Grande Prairie:

  • 55 North Community Centre
  • Alberta Northwest Palliative Care Society
  • Babies’ Best Start
  • Bandaged Paws Animal Rescue Assn
  • Bear Creek Animal Clinic
  • Beaverlodge Christmas Hamper & Food Bank
  • Beaverlodge Hidden Potential Society
  • Beaverlodge Hospital
  • Bigstone Health Commission
  • Calling Lake Clothing Bank
  • Canadian Mental Health (Willow Place)
  • Caribou Child & Youth Centre
  • Central Peace Health
  • Coats for Kids
  • Elders Caring Shelter
  • Emerald Gardens
  • Friends of the Grande Spirit Foundation
  • GP Care Center
  • GP Friendship Centre
  • GP Hospital (Cancer Clinic, Neo-Natal Unit, Pediatrics, Psychiatric Ward, White Rose Program)
  • GP Jail
  • GP Youth Emergency Shelter Society
  • Hythe & District Food Bank Society
  • Hythe & District Pioneer Homes Foundation
  • Hythe Continuing Care Centre
  • Lakeview Seniors Housing
  • Mustard Seed Society
  • Northreach Society
  • Oasis Fellowship
  • Odyssey House
  • Pearson Place
  • Pioneer Lodge-GP
  • Pleasantview Lodge
  • Prairie Lakes Seniors Community
  • Pregnancy Care, Rising Above
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Salvation Army, Society for Support to Pregnant & Parenting Teens
  • St. Lawrence Center
  • Wapiti House
  • Wild Rose Manor
    Photo Courtesy Stitch Club of Grande Prairie
by Tanner Smith