Desmond Tutu once said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” And that is the approach that Bev McKnight Baddeley applies to her fundraising efforts.
Born in Acton, Bev moved away as an adult and returned after 40 years. “I love living here” she says. She and her husband have resided in the seniors’ apartments on Elizabeth for the past five years and from there she runs a one woman knitting and crocheting fundraising “business”.
When asked how much she has donated to charities since she began she replies, “I don’t know for sure, but for the past two years it has been $10,000 each year.” That’s Bev’s goal, selling enough crochet and knitting to donate $10,000 to various charities every year.
“This year has been hard. There are no craft sales, no trunk sales, so I’ve relied on Facebook and friends and have donated $6,600 to different local charities.”
Most years a big portion of her fundraising goes to Sick Kids Hospital, a place close to her heart as her own son, Jimmy, spent almost two years there. But with COVID she recognized that the need in our community was great and has focused this year on donating at home. This year she has given to the Salvation Army Hamper Program, The Acton Firefighters, a local Movember participant, and the Branch 197 Poppy Fund, just to name a few.
Mostly Bev sells kitchen towels with the crocheted tops. These are just $8 each. But she also does baby blankets, dish cloths, slippers and other custom orders. Check her out on Facebook and know that, by buying from Bev, you are supporting local charities.
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