Neighborhood Angels Saskatoon creates knitted items to give back to charities
All of the supplies are provided by artist Glen Scrimshaw, who started the organization in honour of his mom
Belle Messier spends two to four hours a day crocheting. Her hard work is going toward a good cause.
Messier is one of 15 members of Neighborhood Angels Saskatoon. The women crochet or knit items like baby blankets, toques, hats, scarves and mittens, then donate them to local charities.
"It's a very fun hobby. I can allow myself to just sit and relax and crochet," Messier said. "It's very relaxing and enjoying."
She said she was inspired her to pick up the hobby by her mother, who was always crocheting during Messier's childhood.
Messier said she started by making things for friends and families and it soon grew into something more.
After retiring from her job as a teaching assistant, Messier began crocheting for a cat rescue company. She said she would crochet little cat blankets or toys for the cats to have in the rescue and eventually in their forever homes.
Messier said crocheting for a purpose brought her joy. When she discovered Neighborhood Angels, she knew she had to get involved.
"A lot of people cannot afford homemade items, they can be quite expensive," Messier said. "I wanted to do something for people who really need our support. It was important to me to give some of the talents that I have which could be so beneficial for others."
Messier creates various items, notably blankets for newborn babies. She said as she weaves the new blanket together, she tries to send positive energy into the product.
"I think about the baby and I put some good vibes, some love and intention into that blanket," Messier said. "I could see, while I was doing this, this little boy all swaddled in this blanket and the mother being so appreciative."
All of the knitting and crocheting supplies are provided by artist Glen Scrimshaw, the administrator of Neighborhood Angels Saskatoon.
Scrimshaw drops bags of yarn off at Prairie Lilly Knitting, a needlework shop in the city. From there, the women from the organization can pick up their supplies and get to work. Once Scrimshaw receives the women's knitted creations, he hands out the items to various charities in Saskatoon.
The inspiration behind the movement
Neighborhood Angels is a tribute to Scrimshaw's mother, who knitted all her life until she developed dementia.
"I can always remember my mom had knitting needles or crochet needles in her hand," Scrimshaw said fondly. "It kind of keeps my mom's knitting going, even though she's not doing the actual knitting."
Scrimshaw said he would donate his mother's knitted items to charities and wanted to keep the movement going once she stopped. He mostly donates to the Jim Patterson Children's Hospital, Sanctum 1.5 and to the Saskatoon Police Service's mobile crisis units.
"Everybody's got something that they can do [with] talent, whether it's baking, cooking, painting, writing, everybody's got something they could do, which in turn could help someone else," Scrimshaw said.
"I firmly believe that if everybody in the world did what they could to make the world a better place, to help their neighbour, help their fellow man, the world would be a very beautiful place."
Saskatoon police have asked Scrimshaw keep warm knitted items in each of their five mobile crisis units. Officers give them out to people who are outside without proper winter clothing.
"It's a great rapport-building exercise for officers and with the community," Sgt. Jim Campbell said.
"My officers here use things like this and strategies like this to build bridges with the complex needs people downtown."
Neighborhood Angels has been operating for the last year. Scrimshaw estimated the organization has already donated more 2,000 knitted items.
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With files from Chelsea Cross and Bonnie Allen