BEANIE AND BLANKET DRIVE

When the Hills women’s group, Soroptimist International of The Hills decided to do a beanie and blanket drive they had no idea the warm response they would get.

They have collected hundreds and hundreds of beanies, socks, blankets, scarves and gloves in the past month and are expecting more on the way.

The club has been given items by church groups, clubs, and Hills to Hawkesbury Community News readers but it is the response from teenagers that has really warmed their hearts.

Lesley Lawson and Jan Mullan from Castle Hill who co-ordinated the drive have delivered most of the donations to Parramatta Mission with at least five trips between them.

Donations have also been given to Hawkesbury Helping Hands.

A spokeswoman for Parramatta Mission said they were delighted with the donations.

Lesley Lawson said they had been “overwhelmed” by response to the club’s first Blanket and Beanie Drive.

“We are very grateful

“We contacted 23 schools who take part in an annual public speaking contest we run and the Australian International Academy at Kellyville and Rouse Hill High got back to us straight away.”

“We were amazed to see the amount of items they had collected.”

SRC co Wcoordinator and humanities teacher at the Australian International Academy, Sumaia Elkadomi said they were delighted by the response from students and families to the appeal.

“This was collected in two weeks,” she said.

Katie Bosworth from Rouse Hill High said her SRC students were very keen to help.

The Beanie and Blanket Drive will continue until the end of July. If you want to donate items call Lesley on 0412 454 728.