Groups join forces to keep pupils warm

JOHN HAWKINS/ID 125326

WARM SORT: Knitknutz Knitting Club founder Ailsa O'Brien sorting through donated knitted beanies with New River primary School pupils Nikayla Armstrong and Sapphire Pike, both 5.

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Kids Can Charitable Trust has been working with Knitknutz Knitting Club to provide knitted beanies for New River Primary's 270 pupils to help keep them warm this winter.

Mrs O'Brien, who set up Knitknutz nearly five years ago, said the beanies were knitted by the club's 230 members from throughout New Zealand, with help from friends in the Precious Babies Southland group.

"To be able to supply enough hats for all the children at this school, I feel, is a real achievement," she said.

New River Primary School principal Elaine McCambridge said the children would be appreciative of their beanies on cold winter mornings.

"We are very grateful to Kids Can Charitable Trust who are continually looking for ways to provide practical support for low-decile schools," she said.

"We would like to thank all the ladies across the country who knitted the beanies, especially to Ailsa O'Brien who has co-ordinated the project in Southland."