Knitting Seniors Provide Warmth to Those in Need

Like clockwork, a group of 20 Harrison seniors arrive to the West Harrison seniors building every Thursday morning to sit, talk and provide warm clothing for children in need.

For three months now, the growing "knitting club" has met to put together hats, scarves and blankets that will be sent to a charity in Norwich, CT. The club started this spring as a way for the seniors to keep busy while helping out a good cause. Participation has doubled—from 10 to 20— in the months since.

"This helps," said Gloria Gangemi, who was working on a scarf to go with a matching hat Thursday morning. "It's very good therapy for me."

The finished products are sent to RSVP of Norwalk, a branch of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now. RSVP is a retired and senior volunteer program that will distribute the knitted clothing to children all over Connecticut.

"I love it, I like helping out and I feel good," said Faye Paese, 84, of West Harrison, who has been knitting with the group for two weeks now. "I'm glad to help them out."

The weekly meetings are led by Harrison senior Bobbie Sassamo who, at 87 years old agreed to volunteer her time after her husband passed away in December. After moving to the area 2 1/2 years ago she said she was happy for the opportunity to socialize with fellow seniors and help a good cause.

"They wanted me to do it before, but I just wasn't ready," she said, fighting back tears. " When he passed away, everybody says 'keep busy'.

Sassamo said the weekly knitting meetings provide each member with something to keep them occupied and moving. She added that although it isn't a difficult craft, knitting can be relaxing and helpful for the volunteers themselves. Yarn and needles are sent home with the seniors during the week so they can continue to contribute in their free time at home.

"What they used to do is just watch TV," Sassamo said. "Now they're knitting and watching TV."

That idea was echoed by Dolores Ballasedis, 86, of West Harrison who said she joined the knitting group because "the TV wasn't interesting anymore".

"I decided I needed to do something," she said. "It turned out very well for us."

A representative from RSVP stopped by Harrison last week to pick up a donation of 17 blankets, 32 hats and two scarves.

"She was thrilled with them," said Sassamo.

The Harrison seniors will be working with several other knitting groups in New York and Connecticut with the goal of knitting 1,000 hats, blankets and scarves by Christmas.