The talented women with some of their incredible creations before they were boxed for shipment.

The Officers of the Mirage Men's Club who helped pack all of the afghans into boxes. Thank you so much for your assistance.

It's always inspiring to hear about those people who never seem to slow down even after retirement. Maybe the word "retire" is not appropriate in this day and age any more. Every Tuesday morning, members of the Nimble Fingers Group of the adult community (an offshoot of the Mirage Women's Club Four Seasons at Mirage, Barnegat), gather together to knit and/or crochet items for charitable not-for-profit organizations. Their latest venture was an initial goal of 50 afghans for female and male amputee veterans to provide some measure of comfort and protection as they recover from their wounds in a VA hospital. When they were approached by Sal Petrozzi, a fellow resident at Mirage and a member of the Telephone Pioneers, with this request, these volunteers did not hesitate to accommodate him by spending most of their waking hours with their hands busily at work with a skein of yarn and knitting and/or crochet needles to complete their goal. And what an achievement they made! They are to be commended for a job well done. It's just an afghan...but it will mean so much to a wounded soldier!

When word spread of their worthwhile project, other female Mirage residents who were non-members of the group, as well as a number of women outside the Mirage community, agreed to help out for this worthwhile cause. As a result, on June 10th, 8 cases containing a total of 115 afghans were sent to Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. This hospital is the rehabilitation center for recent amputees.

To prove even further that this was a community involvement affair, the Mirage Men's Club paid the cost of shipping the afghans, over $300.00. In addition, Michael Cappararo, from the E-Z Store in Barnegat, donated all the boxes, took care of the insurance, and shipped them.

Jackie Rice Chairs the Nimble Fingers Group. Eileen Eckstrom is the Co-Chair; it was she who started the activity in 2001 with a handful of women who liked to knit and crochet and now it has grown to over 25. The group is always in need of light colored 4-ply yarn for their many charitable causes because they not only provide items for a Veteran's Home and local nursing homes, but for Birthright and the residents of Providence House as well. For more information, or to make a material donation please email silkflynn@mac.com.