A Winnipeg woman is using her passion for knitting and crocheting to give back.
For the past few years, Rebecca Waddell has been spending her spare time creating dozens of handmade blankets for animals at the Winnipeg Humane Society.
“My sister, who’s also a teacher, had started a knitting club at her school, and she wanted the kids to start with small projects. So they were each knitting a little square,” said Waddell. “Then, my mom would collect them and sew them into blankets for the cats at the Humane Society.”
From classroom squares to shelter blankets
Waddell said last year, her sister had a few squares that were still unfinished, and while they were on vacation at a cabin, she offered to help, an effort she says grew into more than 60 blankets.
“It reminded me of my love for knitting. I’ve now branched into crochet, and I keep knitting up these little blankets,” said Waddell.
This year, Waddell would like to surpass that number, and she is already halfway there.
“I just recently donated 23 more, and I had done about seven before that. So I’ve hit 30,” said Waddell. “I’m already ahead of pace for next year.”
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A family effort
Although allergies prevent her family from having furry pets of their own, Waddell says the project gives her daughters a chance to connect with animals when they go to deliver the blankets.
“It’s really fun for my daughters,” said Waddell. “They usually go with my dad to deliver the blankets to the Humane Society. And so then they get a chance to love on the furry creatures.”
Waddell says giving back is something she learned from her parents.
“They have always been a good example to me about doing things for other people, and so I just feel like I’m very lucky, I’m very blessed, and I should pass that along to other people,” said Waddell.
Encouraging others to get involved
She hopes that others will be inspired by what she’s doing and find their own hobbies to help those in need.
“I think there are always needs in the community, and if you keep your ears open, you’ll hear about it,” said Waddell. “You can often find a way to mesh your passion, your hobbies with things that you can do to help others as well.”
Anyone interested in creating blankets for the Winnipeg Humane Society can learn more on their website.
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