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.
Every Monday morning a group of women of Good Shepherd work together making scarves and hats. About 30 women, both on Monday mornings or at home on their own, have made approximately 500 sets of hats and matching scarves each year since they began. The core group on Monday mornings has come from crafters of past Holiday Emporiums. Most of the materials are donated, either from scraps from others’ leftover projects, or from those never started. We also receive monetary donations.
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 300 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. The remaining pieces were set out for their Food Pantry clients to take as needed.
In 2010, the Crafters started assisting with the Christmas Shoebox program for the Whitley City School in Whitley City, Kentucky. Starting with Vacation Bible School through November, the children put together over 600 shoeboxes. Our Good Shepherd children gather small toys, school supplies, and personal care items to fill these boxes. The Crafters make scarves, hats, and pillow cases for the shoeboxes. Again excess items are taken to St. John’s Food Pantry based at Holy Family Parish on the west side of Cincinnati, Mason Food Pantry, and Needs in the Montgomery area.
We will keep our support for this ministry as long as we can assist those in need of warm items for the winter, as well as baptismal cloths for the newest Good Shepherd members! Anyone can help with supplies of yarn, preferable acrylic or cotton, cotton material about 1¼ to 1½ yards long, and/or monetary donations to our Crafters fund, or one’s time in using his/her crafting skills.
Meeting day: Mondays 9:30 a.m.- Noon