Joan Green has lived in McLure since 1974, when she and her husband moved into their newly built home.
“My husband built this himself, with no power,” she told this reported, “We got power to it just before we moved in.”
Joan is no stranger to volunteering. She is the only senior still in the area who so many years ago helped with the process of building the McLure Fire Hall.
She also had the ice cream parlour at the annual North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo for years, and volunteered in many ways over the years as well.
Now, at the age of 87, she’s still volunteering her time.
About a month ago, Carmen Ross, who works in the emergency reception at the Barriere Health Clinic, asked Joan if she would like to make some dolls for the children who arrive at emergency.
The Clinic gives teddy bears and dolls to children as they come in, and can always use more, as the children get to keep the toys when they leave.
“I’ve had the pattern book for years and have made many of the items in it,” Joan explained, “But never made dolls.”
The dolls are knitted and then stuffed, and there is a pattern for a girl doll and a boy doll. Joan is currently working on her third set.
She has also made at least a dozen baby blankets, also knitted. They are small square blankets, just the right size to tuck around a baby in a car seat.
Joan says she started knitting squares as a girl guide, making the squares that others sewed together to make blankets during the second World War.
“These days I can’t do so much,” Joan says, “My back won’t let me; but I can still knit and it’s so nice to still be able to do something for the community.”
She says her family is also pleased for her.