These knitters and crocheters began to meet several years ago to use their talents for good while enjoying each other’s company. Initially, they made requested items for two senior living facilities and a family violence shelter. In 2016 knitted knockers entered the project list, along with giving afghans to victims of fires and tornadoes. This small group of women in a rural community began to have a big impact on their local area, and beyond. How small a group, and how small a community? Maybe ten members on a good day, in a town of 16,000.
2017 was a banner year for Made With Love. In November, they became state providers for Knitted Knockers. The following month they delivered 117 afghans to victims of Hurricane Harvey in Port Aransas, Texas. No one wondered what these women were doing in their spare time!
Since becoming state providers, the Made With Love group has provided knockers for more than one thousand women, primarily in Texas. Currently, they are helping Ohio as well. They have served the Hispanic community in Texas in Spanish and created the first translation of the care sheets into Spanish used by knittedknockers.org. What of their other projects? Those are ongoing. “Disaster afghans”, stuffed animals for the family violence shelter, hats, mittens, washcloths for the homeless facility…whatever is needed, wherever it’s needed, these women meet the challenge.
How has Covid changed this? The full group can now meet only on Zoom. Groups of two or three at a time can meet at the shop to work and visit. They have had to forego birthday meals and holiday gatherings. Instead of making meals for members who are ill, phone calls, Facetime, and Zoom have to suffice. Members who aren’t able, or aren’t comfortable to leave home are now making knockers and sending them to the shop. There are also half a dozen knitters in distant communities who make knockers and mail them in.
Texans are proud of being “good neighbors”. To the women of Made With Love, anyone in need is a neighbor.