Stories by glenystas (8 matches)

The Great Commuknitty Event Continues

I live in Tasmania, an island state to the south of mainland Australia; quite close to Hobart our capital city. Just before Easter 2018, I heard a report that our island state was going to experience a harsh winter. This got me thinking about the homeless in our community and the effect a harsh cold winter would have on them. Some years previously I had knitted some beanies and donated them to an organisation called St Vincent de Paul who ran a Van around lower socioeconomic areas supplying hot soup and sandwiches each evening. I was thinking that there is only so much knitting I can do, and that one person wouldn’t be able to make much of a difference. I gave the situation some more thought and touched base with two Neighbourhood Houses I had contact with and put a proposal to them, (Risdon Vale and Rokeby Neighbourhood Houses). That we ... Read Full Story >>

Volunteering is our retirement job

Hubby and I were approached as our local opportunity shop required coordinators, we made the decision to take on the job as volunteers. We love the work we are doing and after expenses there are donations made to local groups. We support 2 food hubs offering assistance with groceries, a Youth project and a youth drop in centre, and support groups for Carers and Parkinsons. We work with a lovely lot of volunteers who fill the roster working 3 hour shifts. We also have the opportunity to take on people who are expected to work for the dole by been with us for 15 hours a week in order to gain skills which may help them find employment. One of our participants found work within 3 weeks and it was training on the till which helped him to gain the position.

Knitting Warmth for People Living Outside

Winter is fast approaching here in Tasmania, Australia and this coming one is expected to be one of the coldest in quite a while. We have people who cannot find properties to rent. We also have  Community Centres that  provide lunches and food parcels for people doing it tough and I have kept in contact with two local Community Centres over the years. I approached them recently regarding an idea for a knitathon, whereby people could donate knitted items (hats, gloves, scarves, slipper socks, rugs) and get a certificate and I would try to get some items donated to provide some prizes. I talked to a friend at work who has franchises for 3 bakeries in the greater Hobart area to see if she would be able to donate a couple of gift vouchers... WELL! she was so taken with the idea she and her husband have donated over 300 vouchers for a ... Read Full Story >>

It Is Wheelie Hard To Reach Inside The Freezer Cabinet When You Are In Wheelchair.

I was just doing my shopping, reading from my list and getting things - when I noticed a gentleman in a wheelchair looking into the freezer display just along from me. I asked if he needed assistance and reached in and got a couple of items for him. He was also looking for another item which he mentioned but it was not in the section we were at. He thanked me for helping him and we went our separate ways, moments later I noticed the item he was looking for in a different freezer cabinet. I caught up with him and he came back to the freezer area. He was happy that I had found the item he was wanting, we then ended up next to each other at the checkout, I left feeling I had found a friend, and he left with the items he required.   ... Read Full Story >>

An Answer To Prayers!

Not today, but a while back...Hubby and I are coordinators at our church op shop and I was tasked with removing items from the CWA hall next to church as the building was to be demolished. That was on a Thursday and the building was being demolished the following Monday. I removed as much as I could in the way of crockery and cutlery, pantry cupboards etc. There was about 70 retro chrome dining chairs, 6 wooden dining chairs and a wood table. I took photo's and was planning on putting them on Marketplace, but we only had a short time to remove them and no storage available. We have a group of Fijians who regularly shop with us and 2 of the ladies dropped in just after we opened the shop, I knew they lived nearby and felt prompted to ask them if they were interested in at least the ... Read Full Story >>

Give Away Summer Clothing

Husband and I manage an op shop (thrift store) apparently we are the only shop in our area accepting donations which has led to us been overstocked. Rather than pack away our summer clothing as we get ready to put out the winter stock, (we are in Australia), we have given away two large containers of summer clothing to our local Fijian community that work in our nursing homes on contracts. These Fijians send clothing and other items home to their villages, family and friends. The transport costs are high and we usually give them a reasonable discount on what they buy. It was lovely spending time today with one member of their group who sorted through clothing on our racks for the kind of materials which are best for clothing in their climate.

Synchronicity At Work

Hubby and I manage an op shop (thrift shop). It is a small shop and we only sell clothing, homewares and some electrical items. Recently I received a phone call from an organisation asking if we could help a lady and her two children who were moving into our area and only had 1 bed and a bookcase. I explained that we do not stock furniture but that we would be able to help with linen and household goods. Later I was getting ready to go to a community connections meeting where local groups and churches get together to discuss needs within our local community. Just as I was about to leave, I decided to check my emails before I left and as the manager of the shop, I had an email about a deceased estate and the houseful of furniture and household goods were offered to my shop to dispose ... Read Full Story >>

Knitting Tradition

Knitting a baby jacket and bootees for a family member who is pregnant and lives in another state. Only met them this month at mother in law's 90th birthday. Mother in law usually knits something for her grandchildren to send them before their birth, but she is suffering from arthritis and cannot really accomplish making items, so I have made them and will drop them over to her over the weekend and she can post them on.. A bit of a joint effort that keeps her tradition alive.

Kindness Ripples

Sharing Books 📚

Kindness Ripples

Keeping City Parks Free Of Cigarette Butts

Adoption Kids

Playing For The Goodness

Kind Conversations Lead To Friendship?

🏡 Home Day Do’s….

Reunited

Making Connections

Bus Driver's First Day

The Snow-ball Effect Of One Random Act

Passing It On

Cyclist

A Slice of Kindness

The Power of Open Invitations

My First Smile Card Experience - But Not the Last!

It All Started With Her Young Son's Bicycle Tire

Kindness for Kindness

Celebrate with Giving