Salvos partner with the ABC to keep Tasmanians rugged this winter
- kirranicolle
- 46 minutes ago
- 3 min read
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
The Salvation Army is partnering with ABC Hobart this year to deliver hand-knitted blankets to Tasmanians who are feeling the cold this winter.
The Rug Up Tassie drive is an annual initiative begun by the ABC to gather 20cm x 20cm knitted squares from across the state and join them into blankets, ready for donation. This time, the goal is 500 blankets, and The Salvation Army is the main collector and distributor alongside the ABC.
The blankets will be distributed to those who seek assistance from The Salvation Army and other service providers in the state.
The Salvation Army’s External Communications Manager for Tasmania, Amelia Natoli, described the drive as a “really nice wraparound” community contribution. She said that while some community members will knit one square, others, who may be lifelong knitters, will knit multiple blankets. She said that as a child, her nan would knit her a new scarf every couple of years as a special reminder of her care, but for many facing difficult times, this is often not their reality.
“It’s freezing [in Tasmania, so] there’s a practical element to it,” Amelia said. “It’s also that with the many different squares, a whole community has actually knitted this and joined it together as a token of ‘hey, we are thinking about you and we want to do something for you’.
“For people [who] might have had really tough upbringings and haven’t had that support, we are literally saying to them ‘you mean a lot to someone, you are worth hours of their time’.”
Amelia said that when the blankets were distributed, frontline workers took care to select blankets with features that were specific to the people receiving them, such as their favourite football team colours or patterns.
She said that, due to their weight, however, the blankets were heavy, which made them a great fit for some situations but not others, as they were difficult to dry efficiently when wet.
She said it was especially a good fit for those looking to rebuild their lives, such as those recovering from family violence. She said that for both adults and children in vulnerable situations, the blanket could provide that little bit of comfort that made a difference.
Amelia said that when some knitters came into Salvation Army centres, they were also prompted to volunteer their time and efforts in other ways, so it was a good way to connect with community members who were looking to get involved.
ABC Hobart Manager Samantha Stayner said the ABC was really grateful for the support of the Salvos, as they provided a crucial physical presence among those receiving the blankets. She said the drive was a “beautiful expression of what a community can do”.
“Knowing that the Salvos are working in so many communities in so many different ways around Tasmania, you are so connected to such a wide range of people who might benefit from blankets or beanies,” she said.
“That’s just fantastic for us and just such a great benefit to have places that people can drop off their items as well, knowing that not everybody’s got the ability to get to Hobart or Launceston, and postage can be prohibitive.
“It’s just so great to have that physical presence as well as obviously the caring connection the Salvos bring to the people who will receive them.”
“I think when we come together, and for people to be able to be a small part of something bigger is quite powerful,” Samantha said. “It’s literally a beautiful, warm and fuzzy feeling.”
The ABC and Salvation Army are open to donations of knitted squares, full blankets, beanies and scarves from across the country. To find out how to contribute, see here.
