At 4.5 x 3.8m and weighing 10kg, it really is Mooroopna’s biggest blanket.
Through a Mooroopna Education & Activity Centre (MEAC) project, residents banded together to help create the town’s biggest blanket which was last week donated to the Salavation Army.
The blanket appeal was part of the Centre’s How Bizarre, How Bazaar Project, which saw a large community event held in Mooroopna in June. The idea was for people to donate small pieces of material or to knit a seven-inch square to contribute to the woollen rug.
But the Project grew far beyond its organisers’ expectations, with 10 blankets created.
“When we started collecting the material and knitted squares, we had no idea how big it was going to get, but it far exceeded all of our expectations”, Project Coordinator Jo Chick said.
“At first we had a shoebox at MEAC where residents could donate the squares and we ended up with more than 500 squares, which made the 10 blankets, and we also have 26 beanies.”
MEAC staff, volunteers and Project participants handed over the blankets and winter woollies to Salvation Army Pathways Community Support Service Manager, Michael Aughey last Thursday, when a community lunch was held at the former Commercial Hotel.
The lunches, hosted by MEAC and Pathways, have been held for six consecutive weeks where, for a gold coin donation, residents can join together for a three-course meal.
Michael said while the event was particularly aimed at the more disadvantaged residents, it helped all community members interact.
“The lunches have been really successful - one week we had 75 people attend. The thing that is great about Mooroopna is that there’s a real sense of community and that’s what we’re trying to embrace here”, Michael said.
The lunches are held every Thursday at noon in Morrell Street.
Across the next five weeks, a local artist will help to decorate the hotel room, which has been donated for use by Pathways and MEAC.
Michael said it was also hoped the community could name the space.
