A BLIND care home resident has been helping elderly and vulnerable locals this Christmas by knitting blankets to send out with essential items.
Jane Penvose is a team leader at Kexborough House care home – and some of her ideas have turned heads across the town.
Her ‘booby board’ last year raised awareness of breast cancer, and earlier this year she took the same idea but with men’s underwear to raise the issue of prostate cancer.
As the run-up to Christmas continues, she thought of the idea to help vulnerable elderly residents through her shoebox appeal – and with the help of blind 89-year-old Betty Wilford, they’re set to be distributed later this month.
Jane told the Chronicle: “We normally do some type of fundraiser over Christmas but we thought this year we’d do a shoebox appeal.
“I’ve had a massive response from the local community from it and I’m putting 20 shoeboxes – full of essential items and festive treats – together this weekend.
“Betty, who has been blind for about 40 years, wanted to help and she’s been crocheting a blanket for every shoebox we’re doing.
“She has to use a chunkier style of wool as she is blind and crochets through feel and counting – she’s produced some beautiful work.
“It’s absolutely fabulous – I could never do what she does.”
