Mountain of wool to help homeless Calgarians maintain their dignity

AIRDRIE (660 NEWS) — A group of friends has put in many hours of hard work, for a good cause.

They crocheted 1,000 washcloths for the charity Soap for Hope, handing over the mountain of wool last week. The crafting challenge was spearheaded by Kendra Varga-Reichelt.

She understands the importance of keeping clean to someone who is homeless or in transition.

“Because I’ve been in both situations, it’s always nice to be able to work with organizations who help others instead of a hand out a hand up.”

Michelle Edgar with Soap for Hope says they handed out more than 8,000 washcloths and personal hygiene kits last year, and she’s seen a significant rise in demand in recent months as the economic situation worsens in the Calgary area.

She says it’s about helping people maintain their dignity.

“I mean they’re already struggling enough, so to be able to be clean for a job interview, school, things like that. It makes such a difference to people.”

The charity recently relocated to a new much larger facility in northeast Calgary from Airdrie but is struggling to find enough volunteers.

Soap for Hope takes leftover soap that hotels would otherwise send to the landfill and recycles it along with sheets and other items. The group then distributes the soap to shelters and other groups like Stephen’s Backpacks to be given to struggling individuals and families.