Saddleworth WI Pulling Together in Difficult Times

During these unusual and challenging times, Saddleworth WI has had to pull together and offer each other help, support and ideas on passing the time.

Even though we can’t hold our Monthly Meetings, Book Club, Craft Group, Walking Group and Lunch Group, not to mention the trips, events and workshops, we have grabbed technology by the scruff of the neck and managed to keep our members entertained, informed and most importantly, for those living alone, connected.

An email newsletter has gone out to members every couple of weeks, containing useful information and a few tips and light-hearted items to help members get through the days and weeks before we can get back to some form of normality.

Our Facebook page has been busy; a weekly Virtual Walk with one clue per day and the answer revealed at the end of the week, a daily riddle and monthly book reviews. Some members have returned to letter writing and become pen pals to brighten each other’s days. Recipes are being exchanged at an increasing rate so we should be ready for a true WI celebration at the end of this!

For the VE DAY 75th anniversary several members took part in STAY AT HOME STREET PARTIES, decorating their houses red, white and blue, dressing in their best forties outfits and enjoying a socially-distanced picnic in the front garden.

After our successful fundraising last year, we have now made donations to each of our nominated charities: Oldham Food Bank, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Maggies Oldham, Francis House Children’s Hospice and Blood Bikes Manchester. These wonderful charities all need our help in these difficult times.

Several amazing ladies of Saddleworth WI have dusted off their sewing machines and been busy producing much-needed sets of scrubs and bags for the NHS and nursing homes. A great achievement in such a short space of time!

Several members have also been knitting little hearts for the ICU Oldham. Due to restricted hospital access, relatives of patients are unable to stay with their loved ones. These wonderful little hearts help, just a little bit, by keeping relatives connected. One heart will stay in the patient’s hand, while the other is held by their loved one.
When things get back to ‘normal’ Saddleworth WI meet on the First Wednesday each month 7 for 7.30 pm in the Oak Room of The White Hart, Stockport Road, Lydgate, OL4 4JJ. Visitors are very welcome with a small fee of £3.  Contact us on 07763 028466 or visit us at www.saddleworthwi.com

Hope you all stay safe and look forward to when we can all be back together.

For more local news visit: https://aroundsaddleworth.co.uk/