Meet The Carroll Gardens 'Knitters For The Needy'

Some of the members of the Carroll Gardens "Knitters For The Needy"

Jean Rispoli (seated)
(from l to r) Dottie Montera, Rosalie Wysokowski, Elizabeth Hillery and Vera DiMeglio

The ladies talking about yarn and stitch



Some of the Carroll Gardens Knitters' work

It is my great pleasure to introduce to you the wonderful, talented Carroll Gardens 'Knitters For The Needy," a group of neighborhood ladies who crochet and knit lap blankets, hats and scarves for those less fortunate. They not only donate hours of their time to make the items, they also pay for the material themselves.
And their work is beautiful. Not one of their blankets looks the same. The combination of colors, patterns and stitches seems to be as individual and unique as each of the ladies.

It all started with Rosalie Wysokowski, a passionate crafter. She knew that her hand-crafted items could bring warmth and a smile to families experiencing personal hardship. She also knew that there were many in Carroll Gardens who shared her passion for knitting and crocheting. Through the Eileen Dugan Senior Center on Court Street, she connected with other ladies who immediately agreed to help. She was even joined by Cheryl and LuAnn of the Carroll Gardens Library.

Together, they started creating their little masterpieces. But how to deliver and distribute the warm items to the needy? In stepped Diana Costagliola, with whom Rosalie had worked at Junior High School 142 on Henry Street. Diane gladly agreed to act as go-between, and connected the Knitters to the Bay Family Residence and the Hospitality House, shelters supported and serviced by the New York City Department Of Education's Integrated Service Center. Many of the shelters' children attend schools in Brooklyn and Staten Island School Districts.

Yesterday, while I met with Rosalie at her home, some of the ladies stopped by to bring their newly completed blankets. Over a cup of coffee, they showed me their work and spoke passionately about their commitment to the Knitters group.

What lovely women.

If you would like to make a donation to the ladies so that they can buy yarn, please stop by the
Senior Center at 380 Court Street and ask for Jean Rispoli and Dottie Montera.
If you would like to join the group, email me at pardonmeinbrooklyn at gmail dot com and I will put you in touch with Rosalie.




The Carroll Gardens Knitters are:

Rosalie Wysokowski
Jean Rispoli
Agnes Scolaro
Vera DiMeglio
Elizabeth Hillery
Dottie Montera
Ruth Burns
Lucy De Carlo
Janet Guerra
Rosie Phillips
Chris Barbera
Yvette Maldonado
Mary Hanley

The Carroll Gardens Library knitters are Cheryl and LuAnn

Thanks for your tireless efforts, ladies!

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