YARN ANGELS (Text by Pete Porter, Photos by Margaret Porter)

Yarn Angels is a relatively new addition to the South Bay RSVP family. Members of the group knit, crochet and/or quilt various items, which are donated to six organizations in the South Bay area (see list below). All levels of skill are welcome, and members are not required to attend the meetings to donate their handiwork, although most of the members look forward to the warm camaraderie of this tight-knit group. Doris Henrich was waiting patiently for the others to arrive when we visited their meeting place in a schoolroom at La Romeria Park. While we were waiting, she informed me that she had only just joined RSVP which she had been told would welcome her with open arms. She has been a part of the Yarn Angels since its earliest days. She is just one of between ten to twenty ladies who turn up at the twice monthly meetings currently coordinated by Jonell Hart (shown above).

Following Doris, Jonell was the next to arrive and was gracious in giving us a few minutes before the others arrived. Jonell told me that the Angels had been meeting at La Romeria Park for the past five years. They meet every second and fourth Monday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, although there is only one meeting during the month of December due to the onset of the Year-End holidays. Before becoming an official RSVP Volunteer Station, a few of its members were already RSVP members and suggested that the "Yarn Angels" join our family so that they could enter their volunteer hours to the organization.

Jonell went on to tell me that they receive yarn from "all over the place and we appreciate all of it; we can always find a way to use it. We have one gentleman who lives in the South Bay who goes to estate sales and buys yarn to donate. He comes by three or four times a year, bringing literally station wagons full of yarn for us to use.”

On top of their handiwork, the Yarn Angels collect “dues” of $1.00 a meeting or $22 per year to purchase additional items to donate. This was previously accomplished by means of various annual fund raisers such as a cookbook of members’ recipes or selling various items on eBay. This year the members decided to devote all their energies to making items and voted to begin collecting dues. At the end of the year the funds are used to purchase cards from Target and grocery stores and these are distributed to the shelters that the Angels support. In addition, some members choose to donate additional items such as the school supplies which will be included in this year’s August 13 donation night. The December 3 donation night will include shelter intake bags of basic toiletries.

I then chatted with Mary Garrity who says that she loves to crochet and adds that "you get to a point in your life when your children tell you that "Enough is enough and we really don't need any more Afghans!" She told me that she is not a good TV watcher but had to do something with her time. So Mary started looking around and found that the Yarn Angels could make use of her talents. Mary said that in addition to her involvement in Yarn Angels, she has been the Secretary for the Downtown Torrance Association. She noted that the people who receive the things that are brought in for donation day are so grateful and she is really happy to be associated with the work that this organization does.

As we prepared to depart, the members obliged us by assembling for a group photograph.

Back row: Claire, Helen, Maria, Marie, Ann, Mary, Jonell, Carol
Seated: Doris, JoAnn, Marlene, Peggy

Members of the Yarn Angels knit, crochet and quilt various items for six organizations in the South Bay area. These organizations include:

Casa de Los Angelitos - a shelter for pregnant women in "crisis" (i.e. battered or abandoned pregnant women) located in Harbor City. In addition to afghans, lap robes, slippers, hats, baby blankets, sweaters, caps and booties, they also receive intake bags and baby care items.

Cheer for Children - located in Redondo Beach. Provides cheer to orthopaedically challenged children living in group homes, for children hospitalized at Harbor UCLA, and Adopt-A-Family programs. As well as the above handcrafted items, this organization also receives school supplies, toys, and shopping cards. .

Miller Children's Hospital Preemie Unit - located in Long Beach, receives preemie caps, booties, and isolette blankets.

Rainbow Services - providing shelters and programs for battered women and their children. Based in San Pedro, Yarn Angels supply them with knit and crocheted items, as well as, school supplies, intake bags, art and crafts supplies, and toys.

1736 Family Crisis Center - in Torrance, this organization operates shelters for battered women and their children and for runaway teens.

Veteran's Hospital - located in Long Beach. Yarn Angels helps to supply these veterans with wheelchair lap robes, afghans, hats and slippers. They also receive books, magazines, playing cards and similar items.