When she was just seven years old, Phyllis Jarskey, then of Kalkaska, Michigan, picked up her first crochet needles, and it seems she never put them down. What started as a hobby, crocheting doilies, has turned into a lifetime of giving.
Phyllis Jarskey was selected by WESH 2 News, an NBC affiliate in Orlando, as their “Community Champion.” Their reason for choosing her was simple — every year, Phyllis makes it her goal to crochet sweaters for the kindergarten and first graders at Romeo Elementary School in Dunnellon, Florida.
Well, anyone can knit sweaters, so why nominate and recognize Phyllis Jarskey? First, she has made 100 sweaters every year for the last eight years and prides herself on having them ready for the youngsters by Christmas morning.
She admits that this year, she will probably fall short of her 100-sweater goal. When we asked her what that number would be, she said, “Oh, probably 65 or 67.” That’s still a lot of sweaters, keeping a lot of children warm and cozy.
Phyllis Jarskey has lived in On Top of the World for just about 33 years. Eight years ago, she visited Romeo Elementary School, where she chatted with one of the migrant workers. When they told her about the needs of some of the children, Phyllis wasted no time finding a new outlet for her crocheting skills.
Yet not every minute of every day finds her making sweaters — she lives a balanced life. For example, Phyllis enjoys mixing it up with her friends in the Arbor Activity Center, playing pinochle, or maybe a game of high-stakes euchre. And then there is her vast family. Phyllis is never far from the telephone.
Once again, we proudly congratulate Phyllis Jarskey on her achievements in helping those in need and for being recognized as NBC’s “Community Champion.” The video clip can be found here.
Phyllis has asked us to mention that she is running low on yarn. If you would like to contribute yarn of any color, please call her at 352-843-6519.
Author: Ray Cech, World News Writer
