The Central Carolina Community

Foundation and Columbia

Metropolitan magazine have selected Still Hopes’ Knitting for the Needy Club as a recipient of their first annual Best of Philanthropy Awards: Honoring Our Community Champions.

The group received two separate nominations, and was selected as the Group Award Winner. They will be profiled in

the September issue of Columbia

Metropolitan magazine, and in addition, the Community Foundation will make a $500 donation in the group’s name to the nonprofit organization of their choice.

Knitting for the Needy was begun in June, 2006 by Elizabeth Nassif, who was an activity assistant at that time. The members over the years include Mildred Allen, Ann Bowman, Julia DuRant, Mercedes Gay, Marvis Hemphill, Mildred Lellis, Dale Pedrick, Joyce Sumwalt, Polly Rogers, and Louise Williams.

The group also includes the following residents who have joined over time: Janet Carlisle, Mary Clarkson, Jean Doster, Virley Evans, Pat Flowers, Ursula Lamatsch, Peggy Nettles, and Beth Walker. Staff members Sarah Flores, Denise Heimlich, and Elizabeth Nassif are also contributing members of the group.

Since its inception, the group members’ needles have been steadily clicking away. Weekly the knitters gather to discuss current projects, help each other with difficult patterns, and exchange ideas. These meetings over the past four years have led to donations of over 600 knitted articles to those in need. The group has championed a variety of causes including knitting baby items for infants in the Neo–natal ICU at Palmetto Health Richland, caps, scarves and slippers for Columbia’s homeless, soft caps for patients undergoing chemotherapy, lap robes and slippers sent to a local nursing home in need, pink scarves for Teddy Bears that are given to breast cancer patients, caps for deployed US servicemen and women, sweaters given to the charity, Guidepost Knit for Kids, blankets for Hospice of Tri- County, as well as raising over $1800 for the Still Hopes Resident Assistance Fund and fulfilling a pledge of $1000 to the Still Hopes Shearouse Center for Wellness.

The group does not confine itself to knitting. Some group members crochet, and some have sewn quilts for the sick, as well as surgical caps and stuffed animals that were donated to the Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital.

The Knitting for the Needy Club meets Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in the atrium at the Harry McDowell Apartment Building. New participants are welcome to come at any time. Yarn and needles are provided if needed.