Based in the Dandenong Ranges, the Australian Crafters’ Aid Network (ACAN) is a group of knitters who collect and distribute hand-crafted items to bring warmth and comfort to children affected by the war in Ukraine.
ACAN, which works in partnership with Good Neighbours Australia (GNA), an organisation that ships a container of aid to Ukraine every year, has been sending ACAN’S hand-knitted clothing, toys, and personal cards to children facing the unfortunate fate of war.
Tecoma resident and one of ACAN’s five moderators, Jennifer O’Brien said the organisation began in 2019, when they initially sent garments to Syrian refugees.
“We met online through Ravelry, the worldwide knitters’ website, and decided to form a group of Australian charity knitters,” O’Brien said.
“Over time, we found a sustainable partnership with Good Neighbours Australia, who send containers to Ukraine where the goods are distributed to orphanages and families who are struggling, and just two weeks ago, we shipped off our 12 months’ worth of donations to Sydney, and they’ll be sent from there to Ukraine.”
This year, ACAN’s 2025 campaign shipped 741 sets of clothing, a significant increase from 412 sets in 2024.
Each set typically includes a jumper, hat, mittens, socks, toy, and a handmade card.
“Initially it was adults, mostly women, knitting and crocheting and sewing garments, and we would pack them into sets, each for a particular age group, but some of us were making our own cards, and we thought it would be lovely to have school children involved,” O’Brien said.
“We have visited local schools and Girl Guide meetings, giving the children a short talk about the plight of the people in Ukraine and the impact of the war. We then invited them to make cards, and some of the older children even used Google Translate to write their messages in Ukrainian. The messages on the back of each card are often in English, Ukrainian, or both.”
“It is deeply rewarding, because when we receive photos from Ukraine of a child holding the set they received, we can see exactly who made the garments, cards, and toys, and the experience creates a powerful sense of connection and achievement for everyone involved.”
At Mater Christi College in Belgrave, students have enthusiastically embraced the project supporting children in Ukraine.
The college’s social justice coordinator, Con Sarris, said a central part of the ethos of the college, inspired by the story of the Good Samaritan, is to recognise and respond to areas of need in social justice.
“Jenny O’Brien from ACAN approached me last year to see if any of our students would like to participate in the project,” Sarris said.
“She presented to our Year 11/12 Catholic Action Program, and our students immediately embraced the idea, creating cards with Australian imagery to accompany the knitted outfits sent overseas. The cards were designed as heartfelt gestures of love and solidarity for the children.”
Students also attempted to knit teddy bears, and when this proved challenging, O’Brien provided a template to create stuffed felt bears.
Sarris said workshops were then run with Year 9 students as part of their Service in Action program.
“The students thoroughly enjoyed the process and produced an impressive number of bears and cards,” he said.
He said projects like this give students a deeper understanding of the impact of their efforts.
“When students are engaged in a project with tangible outcomes, guided by the passion and commitment of someone like Ms O’Brien, they truly connect with the purpose of their actions and understand the significance of doing good works,” Sarris said.
O’Brien said the community-building aspect of ACAN is especially important for elderly knitters, who might otherwise experience isolation.
“We support local knitting groups, many of whom are elderly and sometimes housebound,” O’Brien said.
“A grant from a Croydon-Mooroolbark Lions’ Club has enabled us to provide knitters with pure wool yarn, which is essential in the European winter because wool retains warmth even when wet, is fire retardant, and far warmer than acrylic yarn.”
“When someone creates a jumper, hat, mittens, toy, or socks and sees them become part of a set for a child, they feel connected to something larger than themselves.”
“This provides a genuine sense of community and inspires more people to continue contributing.”
ACAN’s operations are based in the Dandenong Ranges, where members meet regularly at Belgrave Library for knitting and packing sessions.
Beyond the work for Ukraine, the organisation also maintains a permanent campaign sending handmade clothing and baby blankets for newborns and mothers in the remote Papua New Guinea highlands, via the Melbourne-based humanitarian organisation, the Highlands Foundation.
O’Brien said the group hopes to continue growing.
“We’ve just shipped the 2025 donations, and people are already knitting for the 2026 shipment. We want to attract more knitters, crocheters, and volunteers to join us, either in person at our local groups or by sending their creations from anywhere in Australia. It’s a slow, continued growth, and the rewards are enormous – for both the children who receive the items and the people who make them,” she said.
Interested? Find more information on their Facebook page under the name Australian Crafters Aid Network (www.facebook.com/p/Australian-Crafters-Aid-Network-100083418618005/) or contact the Belgrave Library.
