- Friday 12 March 2010
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Staff knit together for babies
YOU BOOTY: Maureen Greene, left, and Ruth Krippner from Progressive Enterprises in Auckland, Roisin van Onselen, from Hawke's Bay District Health Board, Lois Smith and Natalie Greene, from Countdown supermarket in Napier, show off the booties
Thousands of baby booties and beanies were gifted to Hawke's Bay Hospital by supermarket staff last week.
The donation was part of supermarket chain Progressive Enterprises' Fresh Futures campaign, held every year from August to September.
Staff at the Countdown supermarket on Carlyle St, in Napier, produced the greatest amount of knitwear of all 150 participating stores nationwide.
Countdown on Carlyle St manager Steve Green said 10 hospitals with children's wards were selected as the recipients of the clothing.
More than $900,000 was also collected nationwide through fundraising, of which Hawke's Bay Hospital will get a share.
Mr Green said the knitting, which produced 1300 beanies and booties, was a "team effort" as staff and their families were involved.
"I said at the start these guys are nuts, they were knitting from morning to night."
One staff member was so engrossed in her knitting she had not cooked or cleaned for months.
A donation to the hospital will be presented tomorrow in Harding Hall, at the Hawke's Bay Hospital. Last year $65,000 was donated.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board resource co-ordinator Roisin van Onselen said the hospital was "extremely grateful" for the donation.
