By: Nicole Taylor
A "close knit" group of local women decided that while they may not be able to help build a house, they could still provide its new owners with homemade gifts from the heart.
Penney Kolb of Hopewell was spurred to action when she saw an article about Women Build, an affiliate the Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit agency that recruits volunteers to build houses for needy families, in the agency’s newsletter. After reading the article, she wanted to help.
"I knew that I couldn’t do the building with them, but I still wanted to help, so I got the idea about knitting afghans for the people who will own the house," Ms. Kolb said.
Carol Gerrish, Women Build project coordinator, said that Women Build greatly appreciates their efforts.
"Habitat for Humanity’s goal is to eliminate substandard housing from the world," Ms. Gerrish said. "Women Build’s goal is to increase the involvement of women in the construction of Habitat houses."
Women Build houses have an all-women crew. They are working on a house for Michelle Canty and her three children at 41 Hart Ave. in Trenton. Ms. Gerrish said the dedication ceremony is scheduled Sept. 16.
Ms. Kolb, who has run a local knitting group for about three years, decided to enlist the help of her fellow knitters to provide housewarming gifts with a personal touch.
"I designed the pattern for the afghan, and worked the Habitat for Humanity logo into it," she said. "Houses, the habitat logo, and flowers are all part of the design."
Members of the knitting guild are from Hopewell, Princeton, Lawrenceville, and surrounding areas. The group meets every other Tuesday at the Hopewell Public Library. Some members also gather at Failte’s on Broad Street on the off Tuesday.
Those who can’t attend the meetings contribute on their own, said Ms. Kolb.
"There are 35 of us all together, but about 15-18 regulars," she said. "We’re all knitting squares that we’ll put together for this afghan. We’re trying to make one afghan for each child."
Efforts to help are not stopping there. Ms. Kolb said she is part of an Internet "knitlist," where she corresponds daily with others interested in knitting. Through this list, and with the help of Habitat for Humanity International, she is taking the afghan project to a national and possibly, global, level.
"There is now a group going on for this afghan process in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Connecticut – and New Zealand," she said.
The women who belong to the knitting guild also see the weekly meetings as a social opportunity.
"I moved to Hopewell three years ago from Connecticut," said Paula Zito. "I didn’t know anyone and this was a great way of meeting people."
Other members said they also derived similar benefits.
"The camaraderie is a benefit," said Lynn Hartley of Hopewell. "It’s a fun group of people. We talk about everything from A to Z – from kids to husbands and careers."
"If someone hasn’t been here, you actually care," said Liz Patterson of Hopewell. "All of us are different, all of us have different careers, yet it is extremely social."
The women enjoy getting together to talk and laugh, while volunteering at the same time.
"There is something nice about women getting together and sharing, having a joint project that we can all put our energy into," Ms. Patterson said.
