RESPONSE: Southlake Neighbourhood Centre's Coffee, Craft and Chat group members (from left) Eileen Thompson, Dianne Sainsbury and Joy Cook with just a sample of the items headed for Hunter hospitals this week. Picture David Stewart
SICK children at Hunter hospitals will get more than their regular number of knitted teddy bears, frogs, beanies and rugs this week thanks to the dedicated women of Southlake Neighbourhood Centre's Coffee, Craft and Chat (CCC) Group, and an enormous public response to a Lakes Mail story.
The story called for donations of wool, materials and money because the good ladies were having to pay for most of their own wool to make the stuffed toys which had brightened the eyes of the ailing youngsters.
The centre's co-ordinator of neighbourhood and youth projects, Brooke Murphy, said the response from the Lakes Mail story had been most generous and very welcome.
"It was a huge response - people were bringing in wool and materials and there were many sizeable donations [of cash] for the CCC ladies to continue their good work making the sick children laugh and smile," Ms Murphy said.
The story also attracted new members to the group and now, with the extra wool and more sewers and knitters, the ladies will this week drive to the hospitals with their cars loaded with goodies.
More donations are always welcomed. Phone Ms Murphy on 4973 7000.