The traveling beanies and scarves
In July 2021, 75 knitted beanies and a handful of scarves boarded a plane in Los Angeles destined for Zurich. That was just the start of their adventure. From there they made their way to Uzwil, where they were handed over to a colleague who would bring them to their final destination – Johannesburg, South Africa.
Michele Bodmer and Taryn Browne, November 30, 2021
It all started with an inspiring Mosaic Online story shared by our colleagues in South Africa. Together with the Sizakele Foundation, a non-profit organization, they had organized an Easter drive to donate warm clothes, knitted hats, and scarves to the Lighthouse Baby Shelter orphanage. The home relies solely on public donations for children from 9 months to 16 years old, and appreciates receiving warm clothing and other supplies for the winter months.
I read about what our colleagues in South Africa had done for this home for children and wanted to help support similar initiatives with more lovingly handcrafted knitwear. The only problem is, I can’t knit. Luckily, I had a good source for quality knit goods based in Palm Springs, California – my Mom, a knitter-extraordinaire.
The first thing I did was call my Mom on my way home from work. I asked if she had been knitting hats again for charity, and she had. She knits in the evenings while watching television with my Dad. Knitting comes so easy to her; she can look at the TV and rarely has to look at her hands while she is knitting. She doesn’t need a pattern, as they are somehow her muscle memory from knitting since childhood. She learned the skill from my Great Grandmother who was a seamstress in Zurich, Switzerland.
For the past four years, my Mom has put her hobby knitting to use for good causes, mainly the children’s cancer ward at a nearby hospital in Palm Springs. So far, she has crafted and donated over 350 hats to the hospital, all of them washed in hypoallergenic detergent and individually packaged before being handed over to the head nurse of the ward. Sadly, in the latter half of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, the hospital was unable to accept such donations due to very tight Covid restrictions, but my Mom continued knitting for future deliveries. My Mom said she would be happy to give the 75 hats she’d made to a good cause in South Africa.
The second thing I did was call Marketing Expert Taryn Browne in Bühler South Africa, as she and her colleagues organize donation drives for various causes a few times a year. She said she’d love to make sure that the hats would go not only to children’s organizations, but also to homes for elderly who also appreciate support, especially during the winter months from June to August.
Getting the hats to South Africa was easy – much easier than knitting. After getting my second Covid-19 vaccine in June 2021, I was finally able to fly to the US again and see my parents after 17 long months of not being able to travel. After a wonderful two-week visit, my Mom and I stuffed the hats into a vacuum sealable bag and then into my check-in luggage. An 11-hour flight later, the hats and I touched down in Zurich on a sunny Saturday.
The following Monday morning, the hats and I went to work in Uzwil where we were met by Harry Bloechlinger, Managing Director Region South Africa. Our timing was perfect. Harry was in Uzwil for business for a week and would take the hats to Taryn in the Bühler Johannesburg office.
Taryn will tell the second half of this tale.
In early August, Harry came into the office with a large bag filled with many beautifully knitted beanies and scarves. When I opened the bag, what a lovely surprise it was to see so many bright and happy colors. Each beanie and scarf was unique and each one of them had been knitted with such love and patience.
We support three charities in South Africa, namely the Caro House Old Age Home for retired nurses, The Lighthouse Baby Shelter, and the Intelligent Kids Day Care. We wanted these beautiful beanies and scarves to be shared amongst all three.
On September 8, 2021, a rainy and chilly day, Kaya Mxenge and I delivered 25 beanies and 15 scarves to Caro House. The smile on the matron’s face when she saw them was one of the biggest I have ever seen. She explained to us that the elderly folk really feel the cold and even in the summer months wear beanies and scarves in the evenings. We left with happy hearts knowing that these beautiful beanies and scarves had found a special home in South Africa.
The remaining beanies are much smaller and will be perfect for the kiddies at the Baby Shelter and the school. We are now in the middle of summer, and we would prefer to deliver them when winter comes, and they will be used.
The story of “the traveling beanies and scarves” will continue in the next few months and we will be sure to keep you updated on the delivery to Baby Shelter and school.
Special thanks to Michele’s mom for dedicating her time and love to knitting these beautiful beanies and scarves, it is so appreciated by us as well as the recipients. As the saying by Scott Adams goes: “There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
Gupfenstrasse 5
Uzwil
9240
Switzerland
