Salzburg volunteer project seeks yarn for charity

Salzburg’s Wollwerk volunteer project is seeking donations of unused yarn in full skeins to make items for people in need, ORF reported. Yarn can be dropped off at any of the city’s resident service centres.

Volunteers knit, crochet and sew blankets, cushions, scarves, hats and socks at resident service centres, neighbourhood meeting places, senior homes and at home. The finished items are distributed to social organisations. The project also receives handmade donations from elsewhere in Austria and from Germany.

Patchwork blankets go to women and children staying in shelters. Heart-shaped cushions are sent to the breast clinic at SALK to support women after breast surgery. Caritas Salzburg distributes scarves, hats and socks to homeless people.

Volunteers also make dementia blankets for Salzburg’s senior homes. The blankets feature different materials, pockets, buttons and zips to keep residents’ hands occupied.

The project says it has enough leftover yarn and fabric, but needs more full skeins of unused yarn. It is also looking for volunteers; no previous experience is required, and people can take part at group sessions or from home.

Gabriele Rechberger, head of the ARGE Schutzunterkünfte, said the blankets were especially meaningful to children because each one was made for them with care and time.