First we had the Avalon Library Knitters Club. What began simply as a three-week program formed by librarian Melanie Matt, has now become a permanent activity. Meeting every Monday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., the group of about 15 knitters gather from 7-Mile Island, Court House, Wildwood Crest, and as far away as Marmora, to work on individual projects, fellowship and to socialize. In fact, the group will celebrate their two-year anniversary in February.

Then we had Denise Keown’s group of Stone Harbor Elementary School students who began knitting lessons at the end of last year. Yarn and needles were donated by David Hoy to the group which meets after school every Thursday. The children are hard at work on head scarves.

Another knitter from the area is Meghan Joyce. She might only be 13 years of age, but what she lacks in age she makes up for in wisdom, enthusiasm, and selfless service. Her goal last summer was to raise $200 for breast cancer research, so along with five of her friends, she decided to knit chemo caps for breast cancer victims.

“We named our group Wonder Knitters Jrs. in honor of one of my friends’ grandmother who was an amazing knitter and had recently passed away from breast cancer,” commented Meghan.

Everyone in the group had a family member or knew someone who had suffered from the disease, so it meant a lot to all of the girls to support the cause. They became involved with the South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition, which the original Wonder Knitters belonged to, and donated their time and money to the organization.

“We raised money through bowling, cancer walks, and making and selling beaded hemp bracelets at farmers markets during the summer on Tuesday afternoons. We made over 300 breast cancer bracelets to be handed out at a seminar and have taught bracelet making to student council members at school. To date, we have raised over $2,000 for the coalition,” stated Meghan.

As she noted, “Charity is not always comfortable or painless. We sat in 100-degree heat for hours at farmers markets and walked in the cold for hours at the breast cancer walks. Charity may not always be easy or convenient, but I have learned that the cancer patients greatly appreciate what we are doing for this special cause, and it makes me feel good to know that I am making a difference in their lives.”