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Calgary Herald

Calgary's Ujamaa Grandma yarn sale begins today, continues through weekend

Article content Outside the Garrison Curling Club on Saturday, April 26, a massive truck pulled up and several people piled in and out, wheeling out boxes, bags and cartons full of rolls of yarn in all sorts of colours and designs. Article content Article content There were also knitting needles and some packages presorted and organized, others still yet to be organized and temporarily piled at designated spots inside the hall. Article content Beginning today at 10:30 a.m., the sale, one of the largest of its kind in Canada, will continue on for the next three days, until 6 p.m, today, and the following Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. respectively. Article content It's a sale unique for its community, cause and character. All material sold has been donated by businesses and individuals within the city and wrapped and sorted for the sale, sold at prices unbeaten elsewhere and proceeds donated to better the lives of struggling families in Africa. Article content Ujamaa, in Swahili, means 'grandmother', explained Dawn Bolger, the sale event coordinator. Article content 'We've got two huge trucks coming in here,' Bolger said on Saturday, each of which had driven through the north and south neighbourhoods of the city respectively, to pick up yarn donations at drop-off locations scattered throughout the city. Article content Article content 'And then later, we're going to have lineups of cars just bringing in stuff to drop by.' Article content Since 2012, Ujamaa Grandmas, a Calgary non-profit run entirely by volunteers has run the sale, offering materials at a fraction of the price seen elsewhere in stores. Article content The first year reaped $12,000 in sales, Bolger said. Last year, the proceeds amounted to $140,000. Article content Most proceeds from the sale goes to the Stephen Lewis foundation, a non-profit that supports AIDs and HIV-related grassroots projects in Africa, as part of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. Article content 'They go in and the communities approach them and tell them what they want,' Bolger said. 'And then they help. It's very grassroots which I like.' Article content