Heritage Pointe Residents Knit Together Social Time And Community Service With Their Favorite Hobby

Knitting Club Members Enjoy Friendship and Shared Love of Knitting While Creating Lap Blankets for Bergen County Cancer Patients. End Quote

New York, NY (1888PressRelease) September 01, 2010 - Every Monday, a group of knitting enthusiasts gather together at Heritage Pointe of Teaneck to talk, learn a new stitch and knit lap blankets for people undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. While enjoying their social time together, the women create beautiful, one-of-a-kind blankets meant to comfort and warm local cancer patients.

The Heritage Pointe Knitting Club began in the early winter of 2010 as a way for residents to socialize and combine their love of knitting with doing something good for others. The club is guided by knitting instructor Edhild Schlender of New Milford, who comes to the community every Monday with a big bag of yarn and new patterns to try. The group has donated ten lap blankets so far, and the members also gather in the community's lounge to work on their own personal projects in a social setting. Heritage Pointe donates the funds for the yarn that is used to make the blankets.

Club members include residents Thelma Melnick and Edy Frank, who have both been knitting since they were young girls; Norma Pozner, who took up knitting this year after moving to Heritage Pointe; and Ruth Shapiro, who started knitting when her children were young. "We get so much encouragement from our instructor," said Shapiro, who is working on a large knitted prayer shawl for a relative. "She makes it easy and fun."

"It's easy to refresh one's love for knitting by producing something useful," noted Schlender of the club. "The members are expanding their skills and I encourage them to design as they go." Schlender said she shows the knitters how to redesign existing patterns and mix yarns, and pushes them to try new ideas. For example, Norma Pozner has combined her skill making hand-beaded jewelry with her new hobby; she recently completed a matching winter scarf and headband that she embellished with one of her hand-beaded bracelets.

The Knitting Club is just one way Heritage Pointe residents gather to enjoy shared interests and socialize at the full-service rental retirement community. A men's Poker Club meets three times a week in the community's card room, and the Teaneck Trailblazers, a walking club for residents of Heritage Pointe and the surrounding area, enjoy hikes together along the trails of the adjacent 46-acre Teaneck Creek Conservancy twice a week.

"As part of the local community it's important to all of us at Heritage Pointe to get involved and make a difference for others in some way," said Lorraine Amendola, director of life enrichment at Heritage Pointe. "The Knitting Club allows our residents to explore their interests, enjoy some socializing, and contribute something truly unique to the wider community."

The club members echo that sentiment and all say they enjoy the feeling of helping others using a skill they enjoy so much, as well as the opportunity to sit and relax together. "Knitting is very relaxing," said Edy Frank, "and I like the feeling of accomplishing something for others."

Heritage Pointe of Teaneck is located at 600 Frank W. Burr Boulevard, near Route 4 just off of Interstates 80 and 95, and offers spacious rental apartments, fine dining and distinctive amenities for active retirees. For more information or to arrange a tour, call (201) 836-9260 or visit www.heritagepointeofteaneck.com.

###

space

Other Related Press Releases