Distaff Crafters

For those in need we knit hats and scarves that are distributed prior to the cold winter weather. This ministry also works with baptismal stoles and other similar projects.
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Every Monday morning a group of women of Good Shepherd work together making scarves, hats, and a few pairs of mittens. About 30 women, both on Monday mornings or at home on their own, have made approximately 500 sets of hats and matching scarves since they began three years ago. The core group on Monday mornings has come from crafters of past Holiday Emporiums. With the slow decline in interest for Craft Shows, the time has been turned to knitting and crocheting. Most of the materials are donated, either from scraps from others’ leftover projects, or from those never started.

In 2008, 186 sets of scarves and hats were donated to St. Boniface School for their entire student body. From January to the end of November, 2009, over three hundred sets were made with 73 sets given to Mercy Neighborhood Ministries. The remaining 200+ sets, plus about 125 separate hats, mittens, and scarves that never had a matching piece, were given to Holy Family Parish. Each child in their school was given a much appreciated set. The remaining pieces were set out for their Food Pantry clients to take as needed.

In 2010, the Crafters assisted with the Shoe Box program at Good Shepherd. Starting with Vacation Bible School through November, the children put together over 600 Shoe Boxes for needy children throughout the area… most notably for Whitley City, Kentucky. Our Good Shepherd kids gathered small toys, school supplies, and treats to fill these boxes. We made fleece scarves, hats, and the occasional set of mittens to supplement their items. Again excess items were taken to St. John’s Food Pantry based at Holy Family Parish on the west side of Cincinnati.

In 2011, we were contacted by a nurse who works with women who are undergoing Chemo therapy. She asked if it was possible to have some soft handmade hats to lift their spirits and brighten their outlook. We have added these to our list of knitting and crocheting items being made.

We will keep our support for this Ministry as long as we can assist helping those in need of something warm for the winters, as well as baptismal cloths are needed for the newest Good Shepherd members! Anyone can help with supplies of yarn, preferable acrylic or cotton, fleece material about 1¼ to 1½ yards long, monetary donations to our Crafters fund, or one’s time in using his/her crafting skills.

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