If you are fairly new to Fayette County and would like to begin contributing to the community, there are a number of crochet and knitting groups that would be glad to have you join them.

There are any number of needs in the county, from hats for newborn babies, to caps for those who have lost their hair due to cancer, shawls for the shut-ins, afghans for the needy, white caps and layettes for the Angel Alex babies or blankets for Project Linus. This is a mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. Several groups also knit liners for helmets that are sent to the military.

Because these ladies must buy their own yarn, donations will be welcomed by any of the groups. Even if you haven't knitted anything since those argyle socks for that teenage boyfriend, someone will be glad to refresh your memory.

There are groups that meet during the day and at night, throughout the county. You will be welcome at any of them, whether you knit, crochet, or have always wanted to learn.

The Sit N Knit group, meets each Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Books-A-Million in The Avenue, Peachtree City. However, on the third Tuesday, they meet with the Creative Crochet Guild at The Gathering Place. For information contact Kathy Vogeltanz at 770-632-8635, ktvogeltanz@earthlink.net.

The Fayetteville Knitters meet each Monday at Barnes & Noble Books in Fayetteville. They meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The contact is Nancy Crow, 770-461-5541, or crow5541@aol.com.

Creative Crochet Guild meets each third Tuesday at The Gathering Place in Peachtree City. Nancy Burley is the contact, 404-933-5273, yarnfarming@yahoo.com.

The Happy Stitchers meet at Peachtree City United Methodist Church, Windgate Campus, each Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The contact is Sue Carpenter, 770-560-6615.

Ruth's Purls is a group meeting at the Peachtree City First Baptist Church each Wednesday noon to 2 p.m. The contact is Martha Egolf, 770-716-1469, msegolf@bellsouth.net.

The Shawl Ministries meets at the Fayetteville First United Methodist Church each third Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The contact is Alicia Yates, 770-460-1870. Their finished items are wrapped in white tissue paper, tied only with a piece of yarn identical to the yarn used in the item.

Whether they meet in a book store, a church, or someone's home, the verse from Isaiah 43:19 might apply, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

These ladies have created well over several thousand items in the past several years, benefiting grieving parents, uplifting the spirits of the ill, and giving strength to many who now realize that someone out there does care for them.

Participating in one of these groups can build friendships and service to your community.

To quote Elie Wiesel, "God made man because He loves stories," and "Man is not defined by what denies him, but by that which affirms him," both good reasons to participate in these worthy endeavors.

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