By Heather Collins
Every Monday evening a group of women and knitting enthusiasts at The Stratford get together to work on helping those in need of warmth and a handmade scarf.
The group meets at the Ladies Library at the Carmel retirement community to chat, cozy up to the fireplace and knit scarves for homeless men in downtown Indianapolis.
“We sit around in a circle and knit and tell funny stories,” said Luann Mitchell, a member of the knitting group and Stratford resident.
Stratford resident Bev Bartel said she saw a need after joining her fellow St. Mark’s United Methodist Church members to offer hot meals for more than 200 homeless men at Robert’s Park United Methodist Church in downtown Indianapolis last year. Bartel said she noticed a lot of the men were inadequately dressed for the cold weather.
“I thought I could knit a scarf and give it to one of those people,” Bartel said.
The scarves are made in a variety of colors and designs with yarn from the Village Yarn Company in Zionsville. Bartel said the women at her church also knitt scarves for the cause. They hope to donate 80 scarves this year.
“We thought it would be a great way to spend our Monday evenings around the fireplace knitting a scarf for these people that might enjoy wearing them,” said Betty Miller, a member of the group.
In the past, the knitters, ranging in ages from 80 to 95, have created Afghans for babies at Riley Hospital for Children as well as caps and booties for newborns at St. Vincent’s hospital.
“We enjoy being together as well as producing scarves,” Bartel said. “It’s a nice social occasion.”
