 |
| Caring Caps Logo Design By: Hannah Leedy |
On October 20th, 2012, Clark County’s first
annual Knit-In took place at the Clark County Public, or CCPL – and you missed
out if you weren’t there. It was located in library’s small conference room,
and was scheduled to be from 10 AM to 2 PM. People as young as six months old,
to those far beyond showed up with eager hands and hearts. Some came to engage
in a favorite hobby, and some to learn a new one. Regardless of their
experiences and skill-levels with knitting and crocheting, everybody there
wanted to knit or crochet so they could use their skill to help others. Lasting
an hour past its predicted run-time, the Knit-In continued as we all got lost
in the food, clicking hooks and needles, and connecting words being shared. We
laughed, munched muffins, cookies, and brownies, and excitedly progressed on
our projects. Many people stopped by and contributed to the event, each in
their own fashion. One woman told us that she didn’t want to learn loom-knitting
– she wanted “to be one of those grandmas sittin’ on the front porch, clickin’
away with her needles and yellin’ at the kids to STOP!” She couldn’t stay for
lessons that day, but gave us her contact information, and left with a desire
to learn something new. A donation for supplies was made, and one of the CCPL
staff popped in on us to see what was really going on. Within a few minutes,
she was laughing and smiling with the rest of us.
Yet, far more powerful than hours of knitting and crocheting
were the words exchanged; stories of past struggles, tales of blissful
friendships, and, most of all, varied accounts that motivated these people to
help others swirled about the room. These people are the proof that when one
person sees or hears about another person who is struggling, they do not wish
to sit idly by; they want to help.
Caring Caps is still continuing its original mission, and,
for those who want to help, there are still plenty of opportunities. You can
contact me to schedule a knitting or crocheting class, donate to the project,
either monetarily, or by purchasing supplies for someone who cannot afford them
by their own means; create and donate a handmade-gift independently; request a
list of needed items for the Clark County Homeless Coalition and Clark County
Community Services; or donate food, clothing, toys, or other needed items. Most
of all, though, we must each take it upon ourselves to absorb the realities of
those in our community who are entrenched in need and struggle, and to, then, find
our own ways to improve their situations.
