A group of area knitters in Parksville Qualicum Beach were able to donate $1,500 to two women’s shelters by selling unique buttoned neck-warmers at the WinterFest Craft Fair held at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre.
As part of the Scuffler Knitters Project, ‘scufflers’ were sold to benefit the Haven House in Parksville and the Samaritan Place in Nanaimo.
“How great it was,” said Val Hemingway, founder of Scufflers, “to see the generosity of so many women in purchasing their $20 scuffler, knowing that all proceeds were going directly to local women shelters. When everyone works together, we truly can do great things.”
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Hemingway originally started the Scuffler Project in Horseshoe Bay approximately 10 years ago. Her aim then was to teach her grandchildren how to knit in order to support ‘Families for Children,’ an orphanage in Podanur, India.
When Hemingway moved to Qualicum Beach she started a knitting club with a local newcomers group, where she also taught women how to knit scufflers.
Like so many things, the COVID pandemic has been hard on the group’s endeavours, with no sales for almost two years. Hemingway was overjoyed when she heard that the WinterFest Craft Fair would give so many different artists and crafters the opportunity to share their wares.
If you would like to be a part of the Scuffler Project, or purchase a scuffler, Hemingway can be contacted through email at scufflers@shaw.ca.
– NEWS Staff, submitted
