Fourways difference maker showers retirement villagers with wool bouquets

Saskia Kunneke is always racking her brain trying to find ideas to make a difference in her Fourways community.

Her recent idea left Crawford and Douglas drives spotless, after she offered residents a box of wine in exchange for cleaning up the area.

Kunneke has now left residents from Douglasdale Retirement Village smiling from one ear to the other, after she partnered with a local florist to raise funds to have wool bouquets made for the ladies who knit in the village.

Also read: KnitWits celebrate 11 years of stitching for good causes

Most of the ladies belong to the KnitWits.

“I had my year start by helping a friend’s elderly parents move into assisted living, and my experiences in the senior homes was so special I felt I wanted to do something for them. So, I asked my friend, and owner of Floralli, Liane Langley, if her ladies at the shop would help make up these bouquets for me, and they jumped at the opportunity.”

The KnitWits are a knitting group that knit for chairty. Their wares are donated to all kinds of places, like baby wards at hospitals and churches, and they regularly knit squares for blankets for Mandela day.

“I had the help of a Douglasdale resident, Thobi Dikobo, who called me from Floralli when she saw the flyer there for the bouquets and said she wants in. The reaction was so beautiful as it was such a surprise to all who received bouquets. They didn’t know it was happening at all.

Also read: Knit Wits show up for one of their own’s 70th birthday

“We were really taken aback by how warmly we were received at each door we knocked on. We were told by Hilary Lombard, a well known and much loved resident there, that many of the seniors are quite lonely, and visits by friends and family are infrequent. She carefully curated the list of recipients partly based on this fact and how much it would mean.”

Kunneke has high hopes that this thoughtful gesture will encourage others to visit their local senior villages. “You needn’t even have an agenda or gift giving plan in place, so many residents just enjoy and appreciate the company, though the Knitwits could really use wool donations. I am definitely going to continue supporting and visiting the retirement village and be helpful where I can be. Our elders have much to teach us and amazing stories to share. People should go visit.”

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Related article: KnitWits celebrate 11 years of stitching for good causes