Crochet program thriving at the Community Center

When SallyAnn Esposito began working at the Community Center about five years ago, she noticed that several senior citizens in the Silver Threads program, who crocheted things like clothes for infants, blankets and wheelchair bags, were running out of yarn. She then enlisted the help of members of a local Girl Scout troop to create boxes to solicit yarn donations to keep the program going.

The decorated boxes, which were created by Troop 2350 in 2012, are on display at the Henry Waldinger Memorial library and at the Community Center, where a group of about 10 seniors between the ages of 70 and 100 knit and crochet goods to donate to local supportive housing units for single mothers and nursing homes.

“All the items they crochet are donated to the needy or the men and women in the nursing homes,” Esposito said.

Once there are enough goods to donate, Esposito drives to supportive housing units and nursing homes. She typically donates the items about three times a year: once in autumn and twice in the winter.

“We have a wonderful director who runs everything and gets the yarn for us,” said Joan Manney, a crocheter who specializes in making baby sweaters. “Without her, it wouldn’t be possible.”

The Silver Threads senior citizen program has activities scheduled Monday through Friday. Membership is free. Call the Community Center for more information about the program at (516) 825-8571.