Knitters, crocheters and anyone with spare wool and spare time are being called on to knit up some warmth for Eastern Europe’s poorest nations ahead of a typically nail-biting winter.

Operation Cover Up’s Western Bay of Plenty area coordinator Sharman Marsh has a group of 30 ladies click-clacking from their Judea base – but anybody from across the WBOP district can get involved.

“We need to get word out that people who want to knit or crochet hats, gloves, scarves, jerseys, slippers, socks, plus blankets – the whole gamut – should do so now to be able to drop it off at our WBOP Operation Cover-Up collection day on July 2.”

Items donated get baled up and sent over to Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.

“There’s Ukraine refugees who have spilled across into all of those countries now – so currently the focus is on those displaced by the war,” Marsh said.

“Blankets are the biggest need because it gets to minus 25C over there.”

Marsh said people can donate other goods such as shoes, small toys, toiletries, stationery and bought clothing but due to Customs requirements, no second-hand items are allowed.”

Anne Jaggard Anne Jaggard, of Matua, has been knitting for Operation Cover Up WBOP for decades. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Marsh said she cannot dictate exactly where donations go – because they go to a sorting centre in Romania where they get distributed to the various countries according to need.

“However, all of those countries have people in need of warm clothing this winter, which begins in December. Shipping to Europe takes three months, plus trucking to destinations.”

If WBOP and Tauranga residents have surplus wool but are not knitters – Marsh asked for it to be dropped at Lifezone Church in Judea.

“I’ve been given a lot of yarn, which has been dropped of at Lifezone anonymously and I want to say ‘a big thank you’ for these past donations.

“Sometimes when the July collection is done we have nothing to go forward with – so donating wool is just as important as making the items, the knitting.”

The annual Operation Cover Up collection is at Lifezone Church, Oak Lane, Judea, on July 2, from 9.30am with a display of donated items and morning tea at 10am.

“A speaker from the parent organisation, Mission Without Borders, will talk briefly about what it’s like over there,” Sharman said. A gold coin donation for the event is appreciated.

To donate knitted items, wool or shipping cost funds before July 2, call Sharman Marsh on 027 245 4034 or email: tsmarsh@kinect.co.nz