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2025 KAS BARN VOLUNTEERS

Posted by Amy on January 21, 2025 at 9:28am in WHAT'S GOING ON IN SOUTH AFRICA

13417715077?profile=RESIZE_400xA New Year a New Banner from Ada.

This discussion will have photos and reports from our volunteers in South Africa.

You will see post and parcels coming into The Barn, Lots of Sorting and Bundling, and Blanket Making.  

You will hear funny stories and reports about our volunteers.

Please check back regularly to see what is going on in the KAS BARN.

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  • Amy August 9, 2025 at 7:53am

    From Ronda, August 7, 2025...

    Knit-a-Square keeping us all busy still … more than 17 years now since my trip to Australia in June 2008, where I told Sandy about “cold children” begging on road sides in freezing weather preventing me from being able to sleep at night !!
     
    It’s been a very cold - and LONG - winter this year, with even some sleety blobs of ice on our windscreens at times ! Night time temps can sink well below freezing and more children than ever are living in wobbly little shacks with caked mud floors… it does one’s HEAD in !
     
    So Knit-a-Square SA is deeply grateful to everyone who helps this project in any way, shape or form!
    13675521495?profile=RESIZE_400xBlankets in from 2 Gogo groups …
    13675521698?profile=RESIZE_400xViv and Wandi helping to sort before we take pics, sew a label on each blanket … and pack for distribution.
    13675521882?profile=RESIZE_400xHmmm … lots of “work in progress” !!
    13675521895?profile=RESIZE_400xNathi and Viv “baking” the blanket cake …
    13675522661?profile=RESIZE_400xViv and Ronda sewing labels onto blankets!
    13675522677?profile=RESIZE_400xOoops - back to the engine room!
    13675522485?profile=RESIZE_400xHappy pic … Wandi and Nathi off to Soweto with blankets and padkos !!! (Road food in Afrikaans!)
    13675522498?profile=RESIZE_400xPretty barn.
    13675522884?profile=RESIZE_400xAll these for “recycling” ! HAPPILY Pumzile came in later and scooped a whole pile of these squares into three large bags for her Gogo group to tackle.
     
    Please remember the ideal square measures 20 cm X 20 cm, (8'"8")...
    13675522898?profile=RESIZE_400x...Not this small...
    13675523086?profile=RESIZE_400x...more square like...
    13675523296?profile=RESIZE_400x
     
     
    Keep our children in your prayers please.
  • Amy August 9, 2025 at 7:41am

    From Estelle, July 29, 2025...

    Our last meeting on July 29 at our present location for KNIT-A-SQUARE. We have enjoyed many hours of opening post, sorting squares and admiring the blankets our little team have made with love for our vulnerable children, plenty of chatting and of course enjoying our tea and cake.
    13675519476?profile=RESIZE_400xAudrey front row. Elaine, Estelle and Liz standing.
     
    Thank you, Ronda for supporting us, delivering post for our final day and collecting our blankets.
    13675520075?profile=RESIZE_400x
    Beautiful squares from Elaine.
     
    I have posted all the photographs of the latest blankets the majority of them joined by Liz and Audrey.
    13675520100?profile=RESIZE_400x13675520286?profile=RESIZE_400x13675520490?profile=RESIZE_400x13675520868?profile=RESIZE_400xYou can see all the blankets in The Blanket Room, soon.
     
  • Amy July 21, 2025 at 7:57am

    News from Ronda on July 17...

    Knit-a-Square was delightfully “snowed under” this week!
     
    Still sorting through the ENORMOUS pile of squares collected on Monday 7th from the St Mary’s Diocesan Convent in Pretoria (our friend Nellie in charge of this annual project) … we have also received a great pile of post, collected by Bernard on 15th July, after his time away in Zimbabwe !
    13663433293?profile=RESIZE_400xBusy colourful barn …
    13663433863?profile=RESIZE_400xAnother perspective …
    13663433052?profile=RESIZE_400xGogo blankets in the queue for photographs …
    13663433061?profile=RESIZE_400x
    Viv and myself “laid” the blanket cake amid much huffing and puffing !!
    13663433093?profile=RESIZE_400xThere she is … and two more Gogo groups’ work coming in next Thursday.
    13663433879?profile=RESIZE_400xLovely bunch of parcels …
    13663433500?profile=RESIZE_400xKAS scene …
    13663434261?profile=RESIZE_400xViv turned some dull squares into a super blanket!
    13663434271?profile=RESIZE_400xA visitor from Perth Australia left this big suitcase in reception for us en route to the airport to leave ! How special ?
     
     
    There are lots of winter cough, cold and flu’ bugs floating around at the moment, to disrupt things, but happily we made real progress in the KASbarn yesterday !
  • Amy June 24, 2025 at 1:35am

    From Ronda on June 23, 2025...

    Johannesburg and surrounding highveld areas are experiencing a very chilly winter … and we still have 2 or 3 months to go 😰 !!
    Blankets are flying off the shelves … as you will see from the pics. We have received many requests for blankets, beanies and handwarmer sets to keep the creche children warm.
    13641014252?profile=RESIZE_400xWow … shelves looking a bit empty but that means three or four hundred warmer kids.
    13641014274?profile=RESIZE_400xa rather too tidy store-room … but in a few weeks it could look QUITE different!
    13641015059?profile=RESIZE_400xKAS is a fun place … always something to smile at.
    13641020892?profile=RESIZE_400xOur blanket cake … ably photographed by Nathi.
     
     
    But … there’s always a silver lining and we DO have 3 or 4 Gogo groups who have completed their blankets and are ready for more squares to sew … and so the wheel turns !
    13641015458?profile=RESIZE_400xHere’s Viv in mid-sentence … she’s the KAS chatterbox, sewing on a KAS label.
    13641016659?profile=RESIZE_400xNomsa from Orange Farm - helping Wandi to sew KAS labels on blankets!
     
    13641017458?profile=RESIZE_400x
     
    We are all sewing labels onto the blankets in stock before packing up for distribution.
    13641018885?profile=RESIZE_400xBongi, ( in purple top) and friends collecting the blankets set aside for their creche.
    13641019287?profile=RESIZE_400xInnocentia, who accompanied Nomsa to the Barn to collect items for distribution, enjoying tea … Lindi too.
    13641019698?profile=RESIZE_400xNathi and Josh … our heavy lifters.
    13641020658?profile=RESIZE_400xKate collected 100 blankets last week for distribution to her projects for vulnerable children.
     
     
    It’s been good to receive some soft toys … we were getting low on stocks - and we also look forward to a good postal collection next week to replenish the beanie and handwarmer stocks.
     
  • Amy June 11, 2025 at 8:11am

    News from Estelle...June 10, 2025.

    Thank goodness for KNIT-A-SQUARE, all their contributors and volunteers.
     
    All the thousands of squares that flow into KNIT-A-SQUARE each week make it possible for us to warm hundreds of vulnerable children. Thankfully we only need one blanket per child.
    13581453271?profile=RESIZE_400xLiz’s seahorse creation…we love your seahorses.
    13581453500?profile=RESIZE_400xExquisite blanket from Sharon B. Is this Tunisian crochet?
    13581453689?profile=RESIZE_400xThis one grew and grew and grew. She started with a strip of 8 squares (not normal) then added onto the other side and carried on from there. Never fear everything is used at KNIT-A-SQUARE. I’m sure a homeless guy will love the warmth of this blanket tomorrow night.
     
    In the past couple of weeks we have not stuck to our fortnightly meetings as we’ve had Liz and then Elaine away and today we missed Audrey who is recovering from surgery.
    13581451664?profile=RESIZE_400xThanks girls we accomplished everything we set out to do today.
    13581451856?profile=RESIZE_400xWendy Audrey’s daughter brought a bag of teddies and Audrey’s completed blankets - lots of love to you Audrey.
     
     
    Ana popped in this afternoon with her blankets one of which really made me smile.
    13581451084?profile=RESIZE_400x
    Ronda and Ana spent a delightful morning just catching up with all the KAS news and on another occasion Liz very kindly came to help me sort and size the 796 squares from Saint Stithians Prep.
    13581451272?profile=RESIZE_400xRonda and Ana counting stunning squares from Ali.
    13581451883?profile=RESIZE_400xLiz spent the morning with me sorting squares from Saints.
     
    I collected 4 fabulous blankets from Sweetie. Squares from Ada Breeuwer, Sharon B and many more.
    13581452463?profile=RESIZE_400xGorgeous Aran Cathy Riley squares… just right for this weather Cath.
     
    13581452481?profile=RESIZE_400xDelightful appliqués from Bev plus beautifully knitted squares.
    13581452685?profile=RESIZE_400x
    13581452893?profile=RESIZE_400xIt’s such a treat receiving these ultra soft cuddly toys from Sharon B. Thank you so much often it’s the first toy some of our children have received and they can’t believe that it’s theirs to keep.
     
    You might have gathered that it’s bitterly cold in Johannesburg, she said not jokingly...
    13581453882?profile=RESIZE_400x
  • Amy May 16, 2025 at 7:11am

    An update from Ronda in The Barn May 15, 2025.

    Reporting from the KASbarn 15/05/25 … a chilly day and we have been busy distributing as many blankets as we can. Distribution pics being sorted to send by email.
    13556559901?profile=RESIZE_400xChoosing the “comfort bear” toy for their distribution to Thembi Daycare in Soweto today!
    13556560266?profile=RESIZE_400xPacked and ready to leave the Barn.
    13556560285?profile=RESIZE_400xReady to roll …
    13556560473?profile=RESIZE_400x
     
    13556562673?profile=RESIZE_400xHappy KASteam members. 
    13556558277?profile=RESIZE_400xOur Viv enjoying her breakfast.
    13556558484?profile=RESIZE_400xJoel and Nathi - likewise.
    13556558895?profile=RESIZE_400xLindi’s lovely smiley face to lift your spirits.
    13556559480?profile=RESIZE_400xJan made these great squares.
    13556559867?profile=RESIZE_400xAnd Sal made these.
     
    13556562685?profile=RESIZE_400xQuite a tidy barn but we have lots of blankets ready for distribution and spent time sewing KAS labels onto them! 
     
    We have an opportunity to send blankets and blanket packs to Zimbabwe for up to 100 children … and this could be repeated if all goes according to plan - thanks to my Zim family members and the church to which they belong.
     
     
    We found the first album Wendy compiled and have included some “pics of pics” from the early years of KAS - more to come...
    13556560873?profile=RESIZE_400xAhhh back to the past ! This is the day we received our beloved KASvan in 2013 ! I’m pretty sure it was 16th May as well.
    13556561263?profile=RESIZE_400xAnd we’re still THAT fond of each other.
    13556561292?profile=RESIZE_400xErin and a darling little guy- Christmas distribution in Alex if I remember correctly?
    13556561670?profile=RESIZE_400xDear Marcy - one of our special US volunteers in 2010/11.
    13556562053?profile=RESIZE_400xSweetest little face here, so wistful! She must be at least 16 or 17 years old now!!
    13556562465?profile=RESIZE_400xHeart-melters.
    13556562495?profile=RESIZE_400xI so remember this child at a distribution in Dobsonville …
     
     
    Thanks to our contributors for ongoing parcel collections from the PO!
    13556557678?profile=RESIZE_400x
     
    We would LOVE to thank each one of you personally but sadly that’s not possible.
     
    13556560658?profile=RESIZE_400xThe green corrugated iron fence removed and now we have a garden instead ! How pleasant ?
    • Karen Gordon > Amy May 19, 2025 at 7:46am

      Just taken time to review all these aged pictures.  What happy and dedicated teams KAS has had the benefit of good fortune, from the groups of volunteers over the years right up to the current date. 

    • Sharon B > Amy May 16, 2025 at 3:32pm

      How the years have flown!   I remember the day I read about the arrival of the van.  And being so amazed at that fabulous gift.   It has served so well for 12 years!   Hopefully, it will keep on truckin' for another 12 years.

  • Amy May 15, 2025 at 1:31am

    News from Estelle on May 13, 2025...

    There’s nothing like getting a big blue IKEA bag filled with super squares crotcheted for KNIT-A-SQUARE. Thanks Mili Kus from Croatia. These will go a long way to make much needed blankets for our children.
    13555711860?profile=RESIZE_400x
    After a break of a few weeks it was great to see Liz and Audrey armed with beautiful blankets to add to the ones we received in the post. Many thanks to all for the squares, blankets, hand warmers and toys that keep on flowing in.
    13555712055?profile=RESIZE_400xFrom Sharon B.
    13555712067?profile=RESIZE_400xAnother on from Sharon.
    13555712259?profile=RESIZE_400xSuper appliqué squares from Bev Jeffery and stitched together by Audrey.
    Pat Zimmerman I added 5 of your super orange squares to the bundle.
    13555712086?profile=RESIZE_400xSo pretty…one Liz brought in today.
    13555712859?profile=RESIZE_400xThis one arrived in the post from A Habberfield this morning. It’s lovely thank you.
     
    Our show and tell are some of the blankets we have received recently 21 blankets from Audry, 10 from Liz and 2 from me.
    13555712292?profile=RESIZE_400xChristmas is around the corner its fabulous Audrey and all our talented contributors.
    13555712662?profile=RESIZE_400xMade with squares from the big blue bag by Audrey.
    13555712878?profile=RESIZE_400xOne of mine….blessed with beautiful squares to work with.
     
    All the photos will be posted in The Blanket Room.
     
    • Karen Gordon > Amy May 19, 2025 at 7:47am

      Such varied + beautiful creative bounty ❤️

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