An Anna Bay craft group is striving to lend a hand to an organisation that they believe is vital to the Port Stephens community, the Yacaaba Centre.
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The group of crafty individuals who are a part of Jan's Patchwork Group Anna Bay are putting together a Quilt and Craft Show to raise much needed funds for the not-for-profit organisation.
They are now also calling on businesses and individuals of the community to also lend a hand.
In the lead-up to the two-day event in April, businesses and individuals can do their part by purchasing cut out hands as part of Hands for Yacaaba.
The cut out hands will have the names of the businesses or individuals who have purchased them written on them, which will be displayed in the form of bunting at the Quilt and Craft Show.
The Nelson Bay based Yacaaba Centre provides counselling support for individuals in the Port Stephens area and last year they lost their state government funding for the organisation's mental health services.
Jan Hall of Jan's Patchwork Group Anna Bay said the idea for the Quilt and Craft Show came to her after attending a similar event at Singleton.
"We then just had to decide where we would donate our proceedings too," she said.
Her idea came at about the same time that the Yacaaba Centre lost some of their funding and Mrs Hall said the group knew straight away who they wanted to fundraise for.
"By losing funding it means they lose a counsellor and the Yacaaba Centre has been serving our community for such a long time," she said.
"I know how vital of a service it is here because of the population that we have and the variety of residents living here."
Jan's Patchwork Group Anna Bay has also been around for a long time and their group members know first-hand how important socialisation and interacting with other people is.
"Majority of us are retirees and a big part of our patchwork group is socialising and if it wasn't for groups like ours that people can feel quite isolated which contributes to mental health," Mrs Hall said.
The Quilt and Craft Show will be at the Gateway Church, Anna Bay on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.
To purchase a cut out hand or for more information about the event, phone Jan on 0409 656 630 or Colleen on 0438 805 008.
The prices for the hands are $100 for a blue hand, $50 for a red hand, $20 for a yellow hand and $10 for a green hand. All proceeds will be donated to the Yacaaba Centre.
Laura Rumbel
Laura Rumbel is a journalist who has always called Maitland home. She has been with the Maitland Mercury since 2022, and is passionate about all areas of local news.
Laura Rumbel is a journalist who has always called Maitland home. She has been with the Maitland Mercury since 2022, and is passionate about all areas of local news.
