Seniors Meet to Knit Items for Charities

Each Monday morning, a group of senior citizens gathers for a couple of hours at the Moorpark Senior Center to knit and crochet such items as hats and mittens.

But they’re not stockpiling clothing for themselves.

Using materials donated by stores in the city, they often give large quantities of what they make to charitable organizations.

Today, they will present more than 100 lap robes they have been knitting for the past year to a representative of Camarillo Convalescent Hospital for distribution to patients.

The robes, more like mini-blankets that patients can throw over their laps, were knitted in various colors.

“I like that I’m doing something for someone else and not just myself,” said Gertrude Gibson, one of the seniors who helped with the knitting. “It makes me feel good to know that someone will benefit from the robes.”

In the past year, the seniors have knitted hats and mittens for a number of charitable causes, including Simi Valley Hospital patients.

When they started, said senior center volunteer Sophie Potempo, most of the seniors knitted things for themselves. But center coordinator Carol Ghens suggested they do something for charity, and they changed their focus.

Potempo said that in the group of about 18 people, some have years of experience while others had to learn to knit.

“This gives me an outing,” said Elizabeth Janiszewski, who knits every day. “It’s good to come here and share ideas and patterns with others and forget your problems.”