A group of seniors in their 80s and 90s are turning a lifelong passion for knitting and crocheting into a way to give back to their community. Residents at Masonville Manor Retirement Residence sold their handmade creations on Oct. 4, with proceeds going to the London Food Bank. Among them is 95-year-old Sophia Lustberg, who learned to knit and crochet from her mother as a child and has continued the craft ever since. For the past decade, she has donated handmade blankets and other creations to organizations including Ronald McDonald House and Anova in London, buying the supplies herself. She began donating blankets to a women’s shelters, she later asked her daughter she wanted to do more. Sophia’s daughter suggested the Ronald McDonald house, and ever since she has been donating blankets, scarves and booties for children. Sophia has made hundreds of pieces over the years, but she doesn’t use patterns. Instead, she creates her own designs and colour combinations, making each piece unique. She’s joined by other residents with decades of experience. Nancy Herrington, 90, once owned a children’s knitwear business with her daughter, while 87-year-old Lilliana, who was born in Italy, turns leftover pieces of yarn into bookmarks, scarves and washcloths without using patterns. Betty Smuck, 95, continues to knit alongside the group. For the residents, the craft is about more than creating handmade items. Knitting and crocheting can engage skills such as hand-eye coordination, counting, memory and creative problem-solving, while also providing opportunities for social connection and creativity. “We know there are many people in our community who are struggling to put food on the table,” Sophia said. “We’re fortunate that we can use something we love doing to help.” The group hopes its handmade creations will raise money while putting skills developed over a lifetime to use for a cause close to home.
