A decade ago, Patty Duggan joined me in co-leading a new yarn service group at RVUUF, creating warm garments for our congregants and community members in need. Starting with our own funds, we were generously supported for several years by RVUUF, then transitioned to being able to work with donated funds from RVUUFians and donated yarn from many sources, most recently a stash from the generous OLLI Knitting group.

Most years, Patty and I donated over 100 items to Meals on Wheels, the Senior Center and (with distribution help from the Tibetan Buddhist congregation in Ashland) the huge needs of the unhoused and cold. Patty had to slow down in 2023 due to illness and eventual death but she focused hours of TV watching to crocheting, while I mixed production with soliciting donations,
delivering yarn to her and picking up and distributing the results to the grateful recipients.

RVUUF can be very proud of the contribution that we have made, in all our various ways, from donations to production! While Patty is gone, the work goes on. Creating warmth for those in need in the cold season is a year-round work of love, compassion in action, and it really makes a difference. We seniors find it particularly hard to stay warm without help.

Would you like to learn to knit or crochet? I have some donated knitting supplies to share with new learners who don’t have $ to buy their own, or want to try before they buy. I can also provide a skein of donated yarn for anyone who will promise to bring the completed piece to me for distribution. Anyone who wants to produce regularly can have what yarn they need for donation creation! [as long as my supply lasts]

Contact Victoria Leo, Victoria.leo.reiki@gmail.com or text/call messages to 541.708.1229.