Tight-Knit Community Ready to Make a Difference

Residential aged care residents are getting ready for a unique community initiative to support people experiencing homelessness this winter. For the second year running, residents from ACH Group residential care homes will make mittens, gloves and scarves for people supported by charity organisation St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies), and they’re looking for knitting enthusiasts to help them.

Anyone handy with a pair of knitting needles is being asked to knit the base pieces for mittens using a supplied pattern and drop off to ACH Group Perry Park residential care home in Port Noarlunga, or ACH Group’s office in Mile End.

From there, residents will sew the pieces together and decorate the mittens ready to be gifted to Vinnies. Residents will also knit gloves and scarves; two items Vinnies has identified are also in demand this winter.

It’s all part of aged care provider ACH Group’s ‘Keeping hearts full and hands warm’ campaign.

ACH Group CEO Frank Weits said the initiative is driven by residents wanting to give back to the community and support those experiencing homelessness.

“2020 was the first year of the campaign with over 100 knitted pieces donated to Vinnies by Perry Park residents and their local community,” Mr Weits said.

“On the back of this success, residents from all eight ACH Group residential care homes are getting involved this year and are looking forward about teaming up with fellow sewing and knitting enthusiasts.

“It’s a lovely way for residents to work in partnership with the broader community, build meaningful connections, and help South Australians experiencing homelessness.”

Vinnies Fred’s Van Coordinator Teresa Branch said, “Vinnies was delighted to receive the knitted items last year, and they were gratefully received by the men and women staying in our crisis centres and people accessing the Fred’s Van meal service.

“To know that someone had gone out of their way to knit something made them all the more meaningful during a time when people were in a very vulnerable state.

“We can’t wait to see this initiative come to life again.”

Anyone wishing to take part can download the pattern from the ACH Group website at this link achgroup.org.au/news-posts/2021-knitting-drive

The completed knitted pieces can be dropped off or posted before August 31 to:

• ACH Group Perry Park - 26 River Road, Port Noarlunga SA 5167
• ACH Group Office - 22 Henley Beach Road, Mile End SA 5031

Find out more about ACH Group.