{"id":8058,"date":"2024-09-09T23:20:39","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T13:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=8058"},"modified":"2024-09-09T23:20:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T13:20:41","slug":"seniors-knit-angel-rug-charity-central-coast-newcastle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/seniors-knit-angel-rug-charity-central-coast-newcastle\/","title":{"rendered":"Seniors Knit for a Cause: Central Coast & Newcastle’s Angel Rug Initiative Supports Palliative Care Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Newcastle and Central Coast seniors have been squaring off \u2013 literally – against one another. And it\u2019s all in the name of charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the spirit of regional rivalry, the two opposing camps of clients from Home Instead\u2019s Central Coast & Newcastle office have been encouraged to pit their knitting and crochet skills against one another to create large squares that will be sewn together to create \u2018Angel Rugs\u2019 for terminally ill patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What started off as a little friendly competition to knit the most contributions will turn into a thoughtful gesture this Thursday, when the first bundle of squares, in excess of 150, of the year-long contest are given to Elsie\u2019s Project, which supports the palliative care unit at Gosford Hospital and another under way at Wyong Hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a variety of block colours and multi-coloured diagonal striped patterns, the knitted and crocheted 12-inch squares will be sewn together by volunteers to form single-bed-sized quilt covers. They will then be adorned with \u2018Angel Tags\u2019 that credit the volunteers who created them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been so lovely to see our seniors getting together at our monthly Knit and Natter social events while doing something for such a great cause,\u201d Home Instead Community Engagement Manager \u2013 Central Coast & Newcastle Samantha Farham said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany of our Knit and Natter participants knit for enjoyment, rather than making jumpers or scarves, so we thought contributing to the Angel Rug initiative would be a meaningful way to give their creativity a beautiful purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe entire group and our CAREGivers are excited to see how many rugs we can help create for Elsie\u2019s Project.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margaret Pearce, chair of Elsie\u2019s Project organising committee, welcomed the donation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe rugs are for patients at the palliative care unit at Gosford and another underway at Wyong. The rugs are given to the patients when they arrive and their families get to keep them as a beautiful and tangible reminder of their loved one,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are grateful for the seniors\u2019 support of our Angel Rug project, which is all about bringing a little bit of brightness to patients and their families going through a tough time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home Instead Central Coast & Newcastle, a leading provider of in-home care, is a major supporter of Elsie\u2019s Project, donating $10,000 last year to fund a water feature in the courtyard garden at the Wyong unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 12-bed palliative care facility, which will increase the number of palliative care beds on the Central Coast to 24, is set to open next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winner of the competition to knit the most squares for Elsie\u2019s Project will be announced at a Home Instead Christmas function. Currently, Newcastle seniors have knitted slightly more squares, but it\u2019s expected to be a tight finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Elsie\u2019s Project<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n