Image courtesy of Damian Dudek. Text by Kate Rae.

Lynne Hammond loved crocheting as a child but put it aside for decades while she worked and raised a family. She picked up her hook again after she retired, but it was a solitary undertaking—until she discovered The Crochet Club of London. Today, Hammond is the group’s president and its 130 active members have made over 18,000 beautiful, warm blankets for anyone in need. While most crochet at home, many also gather for the club’s two meetings held every month.

The blankets get distributed through 100 charities, given out to everyone—from families staying at Ronald McDonald House and recently arrived newcomers to Men’s Mission Services and My Sister’s Place, a shelter for women who have left abusive circumstances. They go to pets, kids, folks in retirement homes, and even to a family who recently lost their home in a fire. “We just received a lovely card from them that says, ‘The blankets you made for our family have helped so much during this difficult time. They have brought so much comfort and warmth and even dried a few tears,’ ” Hammond says. “We also heard from a woman recently who was in a transition centre after recovering from an addiction. She wrote to say, ‘I am returning from a life where I had nothing and was so touched to think that someone took the time to give me something so special. I will carry this forward.’ ”

All of the supplies are either purchased at yarn sales or donated—a recent call-out in a local paper for any unused yarn got a wonderful response from people who thought they would take on an ambitious new hobby during COVID.

The time it takes to produce a blanket varies. Some club members, Hammond notes, make two or three a year, while others churn out one per week, and many have their own signature style. “One gentleman who crochets for us has moved into a retirement home, but he takes transportation to the meetings whenever he can and brings in his beautiful blankets, always with hearts crocheted into them.”

After all, The Crochet Club of London’s crafters aren’t simply producing blankets. They are letting people in need of a little kindness know they are being thought of and are not alone.

Do you know of a Good Place? We want to celebrate community organizations that strive to make life better for all. Send nominations to drivenbygood@caasco.ca to share their stories.