Local woman knits slippers for teens

Photo: Kayla Collins

YARN, GALORE — Connie Lebroke points to plastic storage containers at her Norway home full of unused yarn as well as slippers and hats she's been knitting to donate to Christmas for Teens. 

NORWAY — Connie Lebroke is doing great things in the community.

While she admits she's a stay-at-home housewife who's unable to drive, she says that it doesn't stop her from reaching out to others. 

She spends numerous hours at home knitting hats, slippers, dish cloths and baby blankets to donate. 

"It's my way of giving back to the community," says Lebroke. 

Since February, she's knitted 120 pair of slippers, more than 400 dish cloths, numerous hats and a handful of baby blankets, with yarn she's bought herself and some she's collected over time. 

"I have a bag of yarn that was given to me from a lady in New Hampshire," she explains, "and my aunt gave me a great big garbage bag full of yarn." 

She's anticipating more yarn, which will aid her quest to help others during the holidays. Her husband Bob has even salvaged some yarn from the dump for his wife to use for knitting projects. 

"Someone was going to throw that away," says Lebroke. "I'll use it."

She says she first learned to knit from her mother as a child, when she was active in the 4H club. Now it takes her a day-and-a-half to make a pair of slippers.

"I could do it in my sleep, I've done so many," Lebroke says.

This is the first year she's donated her knitted goods to Christmas for Teens and she's excited to help.

"There are between 100 and 140 teenagers that are more or less homeless that don't get a lot," Lebroke explains. 

"If I can make something to give to somebody, it's a good feeling." 

Generous

In addition, she is helping Responsible Pet Care raise money to help run its facility in Norway and to purchase a larger one on Lower Swallow Road in Paris to address overcrowding. 

Her way of helping involves labeling and stuffing envelopes to send to residents requesting donations for the holidays, she says, particularly for pet and cleaning supplies. 

"They are looking for bleach, cat litter, paper towels," says Lebroke. 

"They've got about 95 cats they have to take care of."

She helps out with RPC's Chinese auction twice a year by donating dish cloths to put in gift baskets along with dish detergent and a nylon scrub. In the fall, she graciously donates hats and slippers to give away at auctions. 

She also donates books and puzzles. If they can't be used in the auction, they are donated to a local thrift shop. 

"I am just helping people out," says Lebroke. 

She also enjoys scrapbooking, cooking, completing puzzles and spending time with her family.

Photo: Kayla Collins

KNITTY GRITTY — Connie Lebroke shows off her hats, slippers, dish cloths and blankets that she's been knitting since February that she will donate during the holidays.