The MCC Hub in New Hamburg buzzed with warmth and energy on January 25 as volunteers gathered for The Great Winter Warm-Up (GWW). From seasoned knotters to first-time participants, the event was a beautiful display of community coming together to create comforters for those in need.
Throughout the day, 140 enthusiastic participants knotted 30 comforters, each one stitched with care and compassion. Volunteers travelled from across Ontario—including Ottawa, Zurich, London, Nairn, Toronto, and St. Catharines—all with the shared goal of helping MCC reach 7,000 comforters by March 31. Their dedication was made possible by a team of committed volunteers who set up 22 frames in the days leading up to the event and worked tirelessly to reset them throughout the day, ensuring a seamless experience for all.
“What a wonderful outpouring of community support,” said Michelle Brenneman, Executive Director at MCC Ontario. “These are more than just a blanket. They are practical, beautiful, and an expression of love and compassion to all who receive.”
And the spirit of giving wasn’t limited to New Hamburg. At Hamilton Mennonite Church, around 25 people gathered for a day of fellowship, laughter and service, knotting 19 comforters. Pastor Max Kennel reflected on the deep-rooted tradition of Mennonites serving God and others while building relationships: “The long tradition in Mennonite churches of both serving God and others while connecting with each other is one of the most valuable practices we have as we work toward justice and peace in our time.”
GWW events are continuing over the next few weeks as more churches step forward to participate. Some, like one congregation that sent representatives to observe the New Hamburg event, are preparing to host their own for the very first time.
The impact of these comforters stretches far beyond the frames they are knotted on. Jon Lebold, MCC’s Material Resources Program Coordinator, witnessed this firsthand in 2023 when he visited a maximum-security prison in Kabwe, Zambia. Every inmate there had been given an MCC comforter. “It’s honestly surreal being there, seeing comforters that could very well have been knotted at an event like The Great Winter Warm-Up,” Jon shared.
Many inmates assumed the comforters had been made by machines. When they learned that each one was crafted by caring hands across Canada and the U.S., their reactions were filled with amazement and gratitude. “The idea that someone, on the other side of the world, who would never meet them, would do something so meaningful for them was truly moving,” Jon said. These comforters offer more than just warmth; they provide dignity, hope and a tangible reminder that each recipient is seen, remembered, and cared for. As Leah Brown, MCC Ontario’s Material Resources Program Associate, put it, “Every week at the MCC Hub, volunteers gather to knot comforters, and there’s always room at the frame for someone new to join. The more hands we have, the more comfort we can share.”
Whether you’ve been knotting for years or have never picked up a needle, there is always a place for you in this work of compassion. Together, we are creating something far greater than blankets—we are wrapping the world in love, one comforter at a time.
These comforters offer more than just warmth; they provide dignity, hope and a tangible reminder that each recipient is seen, remembered, and cared for. As Leah Brown, MCC Ontario’s Material Resources Program Associate, put it, “Every week at the MCC Hub, volunteers gather to knot comforters, and there’s always room at the frame for someone new to join. The more hands we have, the more comfort we can share.”
Whether you’ve been knotting for years or have never picked up a needle, there is always a place for you in this work of compassion. Together, we are creating something far greater than blankets—we are wrapping the world in love, one comforter at a time.
Contact Leah Brown at leahbrown@mcco.ca to learn more about volunteering for one of the comforter knotting groups in Ontario.