MORE than 800 tiny jumpers have been created by knitters in Peebles for children in Africa, writes Adam Drummond.
The town’s Sainsbury’s store sent off the jumpers on Monday after staff and customers rallied to the cause of Africa’s so-called “fish ‘n’ chip” babies, who are born into such poverty that they are wrapped in newspaper rather then clothed when first born.
In just three months the store has been inundated with the garments after news of the campaign spread rapidly.
Sainsbury’s Jackie Cowe told TheSouthern: “We sent off 827 jumpers plus other items, including hats and booties, all knitted locally by colleagues and customers.
“It has been fantastic. Everybody has been so keen, with customers coming in to get the pattern for friends and family. At the start we thought ‘wouldn’t it be amazing if we got 50 jumpers’.”
Residents at Dunwhinny Lodge care home supported the effort, while the Yeha Noha shop in Bridgegate offered a discount on wool to those knitting the jumpers. Non-knitting supermarket customers also lent their support with donations of wool.
Charity Blythswood Care agreed to collect the jumpers from the store and will distribute them to children in Malawi.
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