Community
8 October, 2025
Knitting for a Cause
COBDEN Uniting Church Op Shop is one of the lucky recent beneficiaries of Camperdown and District Community House ‘Knitting for a Cause’ program.
Knitters have been coming together since early 2020 to knit blankets for the community, which originally started as Knitting for Wildlife, coined by Camperdown and District Community House coordinator Emily Mercer.
“It was a program I started during the COVID lockdowns and that was to provide a remote program that people could get involved in and still feel connected to a bigger cause,” she said.
“Because there were really significant fires that impacted New South Wales and Victoria towards end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, Knitting for Wildlife was part of a callout from wildlife groups who needed knitted pouches for wildlife from those areas.
“When the need for those items diminished we wanted to keep the momentum going and keep people engaged, which broadened to Knitting for a Cause.”
Ms Mercer said the idea behind Knitting for a Cause came from connection, community and building something together.
“We designed a simple pattern that anyone could follow, even novice knitters,” she said.
“Each individual knitter will knit a 50-inch-long strip by 50 stitches across then the strips get stitched together.
“The idea of that is people who are amateurs can contribute as well as experienced knitters.
“We could potentially have a blanket that has had seven different people involved in the making of it from across the community.
“I think of it as a big warm colourful hug come together.”
Once the blankets are completed, they are donated to local service clubs and organisations such as South West Healthcare, maternal health clinics or op shops to be passed on to those who need them.
“The amount of individuals and families we’ve supported across Corangamite has been really wonderful,” Ms Mercer said
“It’s a symbol of how caring our community really is.
“There’s a lot of people in our community who are knitting anyway and now they’re contributing to something that’s much bigger than one person.”
Ms Mercer said the program currently has at least 20 knitters regularly providing completed strips, but they would always welcome more.
“It’s something people can do from their own home,” she said.
“We’ve got a ‘crafternoon’ group on Thursday afternoons – we can provide yarn for people free of charge.
“We welcome donations of yarn – eight-ply acrylic – if people are able to do so.
“I’d love to also acknowledge Kay Devlin and Merle Newling – they’re my core volunteer coordinators of the program and they keep it trucking along.”
The Cobden Uniting Church Op Shop is one of the many beneficiaries of the program, with Helen Perkins, the op shop’s welfare officer, taking the lead.
“Helen does such a great job with her welfare program,” Ms Mercer said.
“The Knitting for a Cause blanket ties in well for the support she runs for the community.”
Mrs Perkins said the initiative was a wonderful example of local community extending its care and assistance to the broader community.
“Not only is it a reminder that small, caring deeds contribute to recipient wellbeing, it also gives the people who knit the blankets a social outlet if they so desire,” she said.
“People are also able to knit in their own homes if they wish and still contribute.
“I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to distribute these hand knitted blankets in the local community.
“Most of the clients I assist in my role as welfare officer struggle to afford basic necessities, so as well as food, food cards and petrol vouchers that I distribute, I am now also able to give locally hand knitted blankets.”
Mrs Perkins said the program really assisted in allowing community members to feel included.
“Our local community is very generous and caring, so to be able to give these blankets to people within our community reinforces these values and lets recipients know they are cared about and not alone.
“It’s lovely to be able to give clients a choice of colour when I offer a blanket to them and to see their surprise when offered such a beautiful gift.
“The Knitting for a Cause initiative benefits so many people and all participants are to be commended for their dedication and generosity.”
Read More: Cobden