CARSTAIRS – Crocheters from across Canada have banded together to work on a project to help those affected by the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. The Facebook group for Canadian crocheters was started by Tammy Bergeron of Carstairs.
Bergeron said when she started the crochet group she just wanted to connect with other crochet enthusiastics. One of the admins that she brought on board last year (Michele Wang of Winnipeg) came up with the idea of making 16 blankets for the families of the fallen Broncos.
“The group said yes and not only did they want to make 16, they wanted to make 28-plus for the other families and others involved with the accident/team,” said Bergeron. “Right now since we announced this and CTV, City TV, and CBC Winnipeg interviewed Michele the group has taken off. We are 18 shy of 2,000 Canadian group members now and I would say everyone that can is donating to the cause. We don’t have an exact number.”
Bergeron said the group decided on 12 by 12 squares in the team colours of the Broncos.
“We are sending them to Winnipeg from all across the country and Michele and a team of crocheters there are going to join them together,” she said. “Michele asked each crocheter to add a note with each square to send with the blanket that their square was added too. We have had an offer of a place to put them together (from Micheals in Winnipeg) and two transport companies have offered to deliver the blankets for us to their destinations.”
Bergeron said the tragic accident has affected everyone across Canada.
“This has rocked everyone’s core,” she said. “It hurts us to think of the moms and dads who lost their babies. This was an accident that should have never happened and we all feel it. Myself, Michele and the group have kinda been leaning on one another for comfort and the crocheting is a way to help wrap our arms around the families from long distances. We also hold the truck driver in our heart with the pain he must be feeling also.”
Bergeron said anyone else who is interested can help out by making 12 by 12 squares in green, gold, white or black.
“They can be dropped off to me in Carstairs or Project Linus in Airdrie (also on Facebook) is accepting them also,” she said. “Or join the Canadian Crocheters on Facebook and send directly to Michele in Winnipeg. We are trying to get as many done as we can and shipped out by April 28th but weekly shipments are good too so they can start joining. The more squares we get the more blankets we can make and maybe touch the hearts of others involved with the families and team.”
