Knitting needles, though sharp, are not often implements of violence.

In the hands of Joy Winfrey, they’re even more the opposite of weapons of war; they become instruments of healing and peace.

Working with a charity group called Wool for Ukraine, Winfrey has recently returned from a trip to Poland to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees.

Winfrey first got involved with textile contributions after discovering how her fabric finesse could be used to help others though a face mask making project in Port Townsend, though she has been teaching needle felting for five years.

She also has roots that tie her to Ukraine dating back to Catherine the Great’s reign over Russia. That last Empress of Russia was actually of German descent and brought Winfrey’s German ancestors to Odesa, now a port city in southern Ukraine.

“I knew that having a project really sort of inspired me, got me energized,” Winfrey said.

“I was just sitting back thinking, ‘Hmmm, I wonder what my next magical project is going to be,’ and then it hit me, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to go to Poland!’”

The group working there teaches knitting as a therapeutic tool to help calm and ground as families process the traumas of war. It’s also a way to give people a craft that can both clothe and even assist them financially.

“A lot of people talk about, ‘Be in the moment and just think about what you’re doing now.’ But a lot of times it’s really hard for people to do that,” Winfrey said. “When you’re working with your hands, you can’t think about your past and the trauma. What are you thinking about? You’re thinking about how many times you have to poke this owl and where you’re going to poke the owl in this very repetitive motion which is actually really, really good for PTSD.”

Knitting isn’t the only thing offered by the charity, though. Wool for Ukraine is a part of the Zyweic Development Foundation that houses and leads both Wool for Ukraine and another charity called Rock for Ukraine.

“The foundation offers assistance with housing, food, Polish lessons, art lessons, life lessons, and has a therapist on staff,” Winfrey said in an email to The Leader.

In addition to the supplies Winfrey and others have brought to the border, the group also just received a $3 million grant to refurbish the building they’re in to add more classrooms, a clothing manufacturing center, and more.

Winfrey’s original plan had been to not only deliver the supplies, but also teach classes on how to use them.

However, upon arrival, she tested positive for COVID and had to self-quarantine.

“It was a huge disappointment, but everyone was so grateful for the supplies and have invited me back next year,” Winfrey said.

Luckily, the staff on site had already learned a thing or two from Winfrey and was able to still teach how to make an owl from wool which was Winfrey’s original plan.

Despite the difficulties, this isn’t the end for Winfrey’s assistance either.

“I will continue to support Wool for Ukraine and the Zyweic Foundation as their work is far from done. Many of the refugees, especially the children, talk about going home but they have no homes to go back to and Poland will be their home,” Winfrey said.