WELLINGTON – Oct. 24, 2022 – A dozen very generous knitters from the Evangeline region prepared and donated close to a hundred items they had knitted – socks, mittens, slippers, tuques, scarves and even beautiful teddy bears – to a contest organized by the Wellington Co-op and various other co-op and economic partners during Co-op and Small Business Week.
The contest was aimed specifically at seniors, but submissions came in from ladies who may not quite yet qualify for that age category – much to the delight of organizers.
The entries came in full bags; there were beautiful pieces in every color imaginable. The public was able to admire them as they were displayed on a table at the entrance of the Co-op for the duration of week. All will be donated to the Summerside Salvation Army for distribution to families in need before Christmas.
To reward the knitters for their generosity, the partners drew the names of all the participants in the contest. Here is the list of winners and their prizes.
• Simone Arsenault of Abram-Village: $100
• Eva Richard of Wellington: $50
• Yvette Arsenault and Lorraine Gallant of Wellington: each a book by Georges Arsenault, a pack of Acadian cards and an Acadian necklace
• Lorraine Arsenault and Marie Maddix of Wellington: each a pack of Acadian cards, a glass with a straw and an Acadian necklace
• Denise Arsenault, Yvonne Arsenault and Évangéline Gallant of Wellington: various promotional items and an Acadian necklace
• Paula Arsenault and Colette Arsenault of Abram-Village and Muriel Arsenault of Wellington: Wellington Co-op prize bag and an Acadian necklace.
Following the draw, Chris O’Brien, new manager of the co-op, and Raymond J. Arsenault, event coordinator of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI (CCAFLIPE), went to Le Chez-Nous Co-op to present the prizes to the four residents of the home who had participated in the contest and to thank them sincerely.
Arsenault highlighted the fact that approximately 100 children from families in need will not have cold hands, feet and heads this winter thanks to the generosity of all the knitters who donated items to the contest.
Prizes were contributed by MacDonald Insurance & Investments (The Co-operators), Wellington Co-op, CCAFLIPE, Shop & Play, Provincial Credit Union (Evangeline Branch), Wellington Rural Action Centre and author Georges Arsenault.
Organizers included the Wellington Co-op, CCAFLIPE, Wellington RAC, Provincial Credit Union (Evangeline Branch) and the Evangeline School-Community Council
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PHOTO 1: Among the knitters who participated in the Co-op and Small Business Week knitting contest were a few ladies who reside in Le Chez-Nous Co-op’s community care facility in Wellington. Wellington Co-op’s new manager, Chris O’Brien (pictured), visited the Chez-Nous on Friday, Oct. 21, to present prizes to (seated from left) Yvonne Arsenault, Eva Richard and Denise Arsenault. Diane Gallant, Chez-Nous activity coordinator, accepted the prize bag for resident Lorraine Gallant, who was absent.
PHOTO 2: The Salvation Army in Summerside very graciously accepted a full box of knitted items from women in the Evangeline area who had dropped them off at the Wellington Co-op through a knitting contest for Co-op and Small Business Week. Volunteer Kathy Cotton, center, travelled to Wellington Oct. 24 to collect all those mittens, tuques, socks, slippers, scarves and teddy bears from the Co-op. Staff member Susan Arsenault and manager Chris O’Brien presented her with the contribution, which will keep many children warm this winter. Cotton graciously thanked the organizers of the drive and especially all the ladies who knitted all these great pieces.
PHOTO 3: Some of the knitting contest partners gathered at the Wellington Co-op Oct. 21 to view the many knitted pieces that had been submitted to the contest and to draw for the many prizes offered. Pictured from left are Raymond J. Arsenault of the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, Annette Richard of the Conseil scolaire-communautaire Évangéline, Jessica Gallant of the Provincial Credit Union (Evangeline branch) and Chris O’Brien of the Wellington Co-op.
PHOTO 4: The beautiful knitted pieces that were submitted to the Co-op and Small Business Week knitting contest.