Groups get stitch in craft marathon

KNITTING FOR OTHERS: Ranger Maraea Hogan, 14, takes part in the 24-hour service-a-thon. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 280914SP1

More than 235 hours of service has been clocked up by Rotorua's guiding community in their first service-a-thon.

Around 60 Pippins, Brownies, Girl Guides and Rangers from Rotorua knitted, sewed and crafted for six hours or more from 5pm Friday to 5pm Saturday at the Guide Hall on Pererika St.

They gathered baskets of food for the Salvation Army foodbank, cans of food for the SPCA, can tabs for Kidney Kids and 20 bags of emergency supplies for families in need.

They also got crafting and knitted 20 hats for premature babies and enough squares to make 10 blankets.

"We had a couple who did almost the full 24 hours and a lot who did more than 20, to get 235 hours between everyone was pretty impressive," said Girl Guides Rotorua District co-ordinator Debbie Cobby.

"The whole 24 hours was full on."

She said they had previously collected donations of fabric and wool so they didn't run out of supplies and that they had enough left over to start planning for next year.

"Hopefully they got a sense of achievement for themselves. They tried new things and hopefully they got some community spirit as we were giving back, as well as had some fun. We've been able to help lots of different people all at once. Next time, we'd like to make it bigger and have more involvement and variety."