The Knit Wits, a knitting group made up of about 20 residents at Edgemere, an SQLC retirement community in Dallas, recently hosted a sale of handmade treasures with proceeds benefiting the Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas. The event offered staff, residents, family members and friends a variety of knitted scarfs, blankets, baby items and caps. Additionally, residents who specialize in embroidery, needlepoint and tatting – a form of lace making – also had items available for sale.           

“We just all love to knit, and feel so fortunate that we can use our talents to help others,” said Marianne Mead, co-chair of the Knit Wits at Edgemere. “We have been getting together once a week for years to socialize and knit for charity. We are excited to help Genesis Women’s Shelter this year, and we hope that our handmade items bring the women and their families love and warmth.”

Proceeds from the Knit Wits sale ensure that survivors of domestic abuse and their families have access to the resources, care, and support they need to heal and enjoy full and healthy lives. The Knit Wits sale netted approximately $4,500 for the Genesis Women’s Shelter, a donation amount that would cover a six-week stay at Genesis’ Emergency Shelter for four women who have experienced domestic violence or underwrite 45 weeks of life-saving counseling with a masters-level therapist.

In the past, the group has donated 50 “chemo caps” to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatment. The Knit Wits have also provided 100 baby caps to Parkland Memorial Hospital, and during the height of the Iraq War, they knitted helmet liners for United States troops.

“I am truly inspired by the dedication and commitment of this group who calls itself The Knit Wits. They really do have amazing talents,” said John Falldine, managing director at Edgemere. “It is wonderful to witness how they have taken what was simply a hobby and found a way to help children and women in need. It’s heartwarming.”

Statistics show that one in three women will be victims of abuse in their lifetime, and in Texas more than 180,000 incidents of domestic violence are reported each year, with approximately 100 Texas women killed annually. The Knit Wits work together to make a difference and decrease this overwhelming statistic one knitted cap at a time.