Today we were deeply touched by a visit from Donna Rassack and her husband John Reily, who came bearing a beautiful and heartfelt donation to our TOTS Blanket Challenge.
Donna had reached out to us recently, having heard about the project and wanting to donate in honour of her Aunty Annette, who sadly passed away not all that long ago. Among the generous donation were 8 lovingly made blankets, over 60 assorted squares, and 42 balls of wool – a treasure trove for our volunteers to get their hands on and an incredible contribution to our community.
Donna shared that her Aunty Annette and her mother Colleen (Annette’s sister) were incredibly close – so close, in fact, that they shared a double wedding. Though they lived in different parts of New South Wales, their bond remained unbreakable, strengthened by a shared love of knitting and crochet.
When Annette passed, her family lovingly packed up her craft supplies and brought them to Sydney for Colleen. Now in her later years, Colleen still enjoys crocheting but finds it a bit more difficult these days. Rather than let the beautiful materials go unused, Colleen and Donna decided to pass them along to us – knowing they would be appreciated and used to bring warmth to others in our community.
We are incredibly grateful to Annette, Colleen, and Donna for their generosity, kindness, and thoughtfulness. Annette’s legacy will live on in the hands of our volunteers and recipients, and her beautiful work will help keep our community in warmth and love this winter.