Longtime Mariposa Gardens residents Marlene West and Eileen Liikala (second and third from left, respectively) have spent much of the past five years knitting, crocheting and sewing. They then sell their artwork and materials once a month and every Christmas and donate the proceeds to local charities and organizations. The two ladies estimate they’ve donated more than $5,000 over the past five years. They recently donated $600 to the breakfast programs at local schools. Joining them for the presentation were school breakfast program board treasurer Jim Harrington (far left), his wife June, who is a volunteer board member, and Louise Dawe, manager of assisted living at Mariposa Gardens. West and Liikala made all of the materials shown on Liikala’s walker. (Keith Lacey photo)
Two talented Osoyoos seniors are committed to assisting the less fortunate in our community – one stitch, needle or loop at a time.
Marlene West and Eileen Liikala not only share a friendship – they met at Mariposa Gardens more than five years ago – but they also share a passion for knitting and crocheting.
West also loves to sew and quilt – which Liikala used to do as well, but has had to quit due to health reasons.
Together, the dynamic duo have been knitting, crocheting, sewing and quilting items such as scarves, socks, sweaters, pillows, washclothes and an assortment of other items and holding a monthly sale for residents at Mariposa.
For the past five years, the talented ladies have held a larger Christmas sale of their various creations.
Their latest Christmas sale, which was held on Nov. 30, resulted in a profit of almost $600.
Last week, West and Liikala presented organizers with the breakfast programs at Osoyoos Secondary School and Osoyoos Elmentary School with a cheque for $600.
For more than five years, West and Liikala have taken the profits for the entire year and donated them to various organizations in Osoyoos designed to help the less fortunate.
In that time, West, who just turned 80, and Liikala, who is 87, estimate they have donated close to $5,000 to various charities and non-profit organizations in town as a direct result of the items they have knitted, crocheted, sewn and quilted.
“It all goes to charity and it all goes to charities that are in Osoyoos and help local people,” said West proudly. “When we first started doing this, we received tremendous support from the community and decided that we wanted to donate all of the proceeds right back into this community.”
The ladies select a different charity every year. Some of the other organizations they have assisted over the past five years include the Desert Valley Hospice Society, local autism support program, Osoyoos Food Bank, Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre and Better at Home program.
Because they have been doing this for more than five years, many residents at Mariposa and other residents in Osoyoos know about their good work and help donate materials like yarn, sewing needles and other equipment, said West.
“We get so many donations of materials that it basically doesn’t cost us anything,” she said. “All we have to commit is our time and effort and that’s not a big deal because we both love it.”
Both women say their passion for knitting, crocheting and sewing dates back to their teenage years.
Liikala was born in Canada, but moved to Belfast in Ireland at a young age before settling in Thunder Bay, Ont. and spending much of her life there.
West was born and raised in New Brunswick and moved to the South Okanagan many years ago.
They moved into Mariposa within months of each other dating back almost six years ago and quickly discovered their affinity and shared passion for knitting, crocheting and sewing.
Both ladies said they look forward to many more years of pursuing their passion and raising funds for local charities in the process.
“I would be lost without it,” said Liikala. “My legs are shot, but my fingers still work fine and I love doing this stuff.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
