A very touching story!
Western Fair 2024 – Update!!
Club members swept the Baby Blanket category!
First prize – Fran S; Second prize – Gail R; Third Prize – Marion H
Granny Square Blanket – Third prize – Marion H
Blanket/Afghan category – Third prize – Fran S
Best in Show – an award sponsored by the Crochet Club of London – Betty C (not a Club member)
Pictures – including all the entries by the following Club members are in the Photo Gallery
Darlene H; Lois B; Lynne H; Marion S; Sue McG
The following article appears in the Fall 2024 Edition of the CAA Magazine!
An update to the request in the London Press “Reader to Reader” column and the article in the CAA Magazine shown above.
The response to this request and the CAA article has been overwhelming with over 112 (Awesome!) donations to date! We are so appreciative of everyone who has contacted us and sorted their yarn in preparation for it all to be picked up. A big thank you to London Yarns for the post on their website; this resulted in some additional donations. Also, a huge thanks to all members who have picked up yarn around London and beyond.
I adopted two cats this Family Day weekend from the Catty Shack and wanted to thank you for the lovely crocheted blankets that were provided for the cats. It was nice because they were able to take home something with their scents they were accustomed to. It meant a lot. Thanks again. Keep up the great work
WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT
As of the end of September 2024, the Club is proud to have donated the following blankets – Full 7556; Lap 6813; Baby 4230; Silent Auction 516 for a total of 19,115 blankets to local charitable organizations in the London community, The estimated value of these blankets is $1,182,220.00!!
In addition, 3641 pet blankets have been donated to agencies who support the pet population.
Introducing our third annual fundraising campaign – for more information please refer to the Monetary Donations page.
Update – As of the end of September 2024 the total donated through our 2nd annual fundraising campaign was $16,888!!
Testimonials
FROM BLANKET RECIPIENTS
Blankets were delivered to a family that lost everything in a recent fire, nothing can be salvaged. They should be moving to a furnished rental soon and thanks to the community the kids are well clothed. Reaction as the blankets were delivered – “The 7 year old came to the door and was jumping up and down with excitement. She LOVES it because it looks like a rainbow. Just wanted to let you know how happy this little girl is tonight.” (January 2024)
“Thank you so much, to ALL of you at the Crochet Club, for your generosity and kindness, to so many, for many years. I was able to choose a couple of your beautiful blankets, this past week. Cheers my heart, every day, brightens up, one of my chairs – red and blue, two of my favourite colors. I know from experience, that kindness and giving to others, brings a joy that we can not put a price on. Thank you, once again. Blessings to each and every one of you. Eunice.” (May 2023)
Reported by one of our members who delivered one of our blankets to a Meals on Wheels client along with her meal at Christmas- “She was quite emotional when speaking of the lovely blanket she was gifted. It truly brought her comfort and a smile this holiday season. It was even great that the blanket happens to match her bedroom décor and colour.” (December 2022)
FROM AGENCIES
London Community Chaplaincy
I am writing this letter of support for the Crochet Club of London. Each year, we are the recipient of many of the blankets their hardworking volunteers create. The blankets meet a practical and tangible need for warmth in London. Most of our families do not have the resources to buy warm bedding for the cold winter months, Additionally, bed bugs and head lice make the need for new blankets a very real one. Beyond the practical benefits, the blankets are also a tangible way to show the lonely that others are thinking of them. Poverty is a very lonely road and the gifts of these blankets remind our clients that they have people in the community standing with them in hard times.
Ronald McDonald House
We can’t thank you enough for the beautiful crochet blankets you provide our families. We know each blanket is crocheted together with love, and it is our pleasure to pass that love along to our families when providing them the blankets. At Ronald McDonald House, all new families coming to stay with us receive a blanket for their baby or child in the hospital. We also provide blankets on our Cart with a Heart, which is a hospitality cart that goes around at Children’s Hospital units, so we ensure anyone who would like a blanket can get one. These blankets provide the opportunity for parents to snuggle with their little ones while in the hospital, which is one of the greatest gifts we can give our families. These snuggles with family are what RMHC SWO feel helps children recover faster, so this is why RHHC SWO is so appreciative of your generous gift of time and your talent. Thank you again for your support.
With Gratitude. October 2024
For ten years, The Crochet Club of London has been donating to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwestern Ontario to provide comfort for families travelling for their children’s medical needs.
From blankets made with love and the softest yarn, to the coziest slippers to keep feet of all sizes warm and small teddies for bedside comfort too. The handmade goodies provide comfort to children and their families calling RMH their “home-away-from-home.”
The Crochet Club of London also supports RMH-SWO fundraising efforts by donating their handmade projects to our Signature event silent auctions. The gifts from the Crochet Club reach beyond the doors of RMH and also touch the hearts of those across Southwestern Ontario attending our Curling Bonspiels and Golf Classics.
Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling – one that the Crochet Club of London makes possible with their countless donations.
Mission Services of London
On behalf of Mission Services of London, I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation and gratitude for The Crochet Club of London’s recent support to our organization. We were very pleased to receive the many blankets made by your members for our branches.
All of the blankets have been distributed to our branches: Rotholme Womens’ & Family Shelter, Community Mental health Programs, Quintin Warner House, Men’s Mission, and to the Emergency Voucher Program run from our Mission Store.
We are blessed to have you as a partner in the fight against homelessness and poverty in our community. Thanks you for your caring for the most vulnerable of our neighbours. Your generous donation will help us to provide warmth, comfort, and to maintain dignity and hope within our clients.
How the silent auction blankets help the community!
From London Track 3 Adaptive Snow School
This letter is to express our appreciation. We at London Track 3 Adaptive Snow School had asked if you would consider donating an item for a silent auction at our recent Euchre Fundraiser hosted on April 19, 2024. The funds raised from this event exceeded our expectations and will allow us to continue with Track 3’s mission of teaching students with disabilities how to ski or snowboard. In our snow ski program we have 120 students who are supported by 220 volunteers.
The blanket donated by the Club sold for $60.00.
From Big Brothers Big Sisters
“I am writing to sincerely thank you for your generous contribution to the silent auction at this year’s Big Bash Casino Royale presented by Harrison Pensa. Your gift was part of an incredible array of items that brought excitement to our event and generated just under $9.000 for our organization.
It costs our organization $1,500 to match a child on our waitlist with a mentor and support the match for one year.
Thank you for this. And thank you for helping us to grow and enhance our mentoring programs. Your involvement in our 2023 Big Bash is igniting the potential of so many young people in our community.