In the harsh, cold Hobart winter, the generosity of Uniting AgeWell Ningana and Queenborough Rise communities brought warmth and comfort to the city’s homeless.
Motorbikes from across Hobart roared into Ningana on July 3 for an inaugural Blanket Run, while avid knitters at Queenborough Rise had their needles working overtime, raising money and creating blankets for people in need.
Ningana Project Officer and event coordinator Ken Harriss said the Blanket Run was supported by the Military Brotherhood Motorcycle Club in Hobart, Mr Tony Mulder MLC and Greta Meat Works.
It collected hundreds of blankets and raised $522.90 in donations for local charities to distribute to people in need.
“Our community felt it was important to help others because there are many people who have far less than we do,” he said. “It’s showing kindness to those in less fortunate situations than ours.”
The day began with a hot breakfast, enabling residents and families to inspect the beautiful machines.
“It was an excellent community event with families and residents contributing to the initiative and one resident even taking the opportunity to ride on the back of a bike,” Ken said.
Meanwhile, the 20-member knitting group at Queenborough Rise created individual squares from wool scraps that were later sewn together by a volunteer into more than 50 colourful blankets (pictured below). They were then distributed between UnitingCare Tasmania, Colony 47 and the ABC Giving Tree.
Queenborough Rise Chaplain Marian Bisset said the idea started when she saw an ad on television appealing for blankets for those most vulnerable during winter.
“I suggested this to the knitting group, to which everyone enthusiastically agreed, it was a great initiative,” she said.
One resident even commented how lucky they were to all have blankets and ought to make some to give to those less fortunate.
Members of the knitting group were delighted to take part in this act of kindness, giving life to the words of St Francis: “It is in giving we receive”.