Mary Ethel Weatherseed has been a member of the Needlework Guild of Canada for 84 years, a little known organization with a big mandate: ensuring Toronto’s most needy are properly clothed.

“No one has heard much about us,” said the 96-year-old. “People are always surprised that we’re still around.”

The guild, a registered charity, celebrated its 125th anniversary Tuesday, but aside fromcommemorative cake and speeches, it was primarily about business. There was a din in the basement of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, where scores of volunteers hurriedly worked to organize and distribute about 4,000 handmade articles of clothing to 21 local social service agencies. Some worked their way down checklists, while others helped locate desired items. Store bought garments were also being prepared to be carted away to serve underprivileged communities. Items included mittens, toques, socks and blankets.

President Susan Garskey said the original guild began in England in 1882 and was exported to Toronto about 10 years later.

Since its inception, its principles have remained the same.

“It’s about helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” she said. “It’s making sure they have clothing, an optional extra. To me, it’s an unsung hero that’s just gone on for years and so many people don’t know about it.”

Ont. Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell attended the guild’s distribution day — her first time, she said.

“I get to pick out things to give to several charities,” she said, which included Haven Toronto and Yonge Street Mission. “I have just found 30 hats for men.

“As we get into the cold weather season, we know how many are in need of warm clothing,” she said. “This is what makes communities come together, the fact that people care enough to work during the year and help make life a little easier for someone else.”

The guild has been carried down generationally, Garskey said. Her grandmother and mother were both members.

“We actually predate the Ministry of Community and Social Services,” she said.

There are about 300 volunteers. Each person annually contributes two handmade items or financial donations, which goes towards purchasing garments. It’s made up of Toronto residents, but there are some who send in their donations from outside the city, Garskey, who lives in Peterborough, said.

Sixty-eight layettes surround Joyce Hisey, an executive member — some are stacked almost as tall as she is. They are for single mothers and contain things like knitted toy bears, sweaters and hygienic products for babies.

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“We have a lot of people who are short of everything,” she said. “The requests from the agencies keep coming in all the time.”

Other agencies include Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Native Child and Family Services and Sistering.

There’s been a sharp demand for layettes over the years, she said.

“We used to do 24,” she said. “The agencies came and asked for double.”