The Gift of Giving

Numbers generally have not been a favorite of mine. However, I feel that numbers do a fairly stellar job of portraying the gift of giving for all those connected to Caring Caps.

The people helping Carings Caps in any fashion have been absolutely crucial to its success.  After tallying up all of the knitters and crocheters, I found that 49 people created a total of 174 items. They varied in age range, mindset, and location, among countless other traits. However, they all came together under the cause of helping Clark County's impoverished and/or homeless citizens.

While each yarn-crafter brought with them a unique, individual story, this is a woman whom, I believe, touches anyone's heart who discovers her. Jackie, an older friend, lives with Alzheimers disease, and its cruel effects. As a younger woman, she was an avid knitter. However, as this malady further ran its course, this skill and love slipped away with many other mental facets.  However, change for the better changed Jackie's course because of her involvement with Caring Caps. Her caretaker and a fellow church member, read about Caring Caps' mission in our newsletter and took an immediate interest.  A knitter herself, she quickly made her own contribution.  Thinking of Jackie,  Gertrude brought several packages of yarn and needles the next time she visited the older woman. Confused by the items surrounding her, Jackie stuck the needles into the yarn - and did nothing else.  Gertrude returned the next day, though. Instead of bringing the supplies in their store-bought appearance.  She handed Jackie a single ball of yarn with the pair of knitting needles, and the afflicted woman picked up her old passion as if she had never quit it. Jackie made three gorgeous scarves, each without even one dropped stitch or pattern mistake. Even greater than her gift to three people in the community is the gift that resulted from her work.  Jackie's family noticed marked changes in her mental state. While she still faces numerous challenges posed by Alzheimers, she and her family were thankful beyond words for the great strides she made.

This is one of the many back stories that have woven themselves into the Caring Caps project.  I am so grateful to my group of close friends who helped me to wrap and tag each of these special handmade gifts with the logo that my friend, Hannah, made, and was used on the Caring Caps holiday card.  There were three knitting groups who worked very hard on this project.  The ladies at Rosemary Brooks created about 40 of these special gifts.  The ladies at the Clark County Homeless Shelter created over 70 handemade items. I had the joy of participating in their knitting group each week and they have touched my life with their generosity during a time when their own lives were, and still are, facing challenges.  Girl Scout troop 652 was an extreme joy as I got to to know and to watch them. They learned that they have skills to help make a difference to others, which is a huge gift for both girls of their age, and those far older. A large number of individual yarn-crafters worked from their homes to make special gifts for others and to make sure they were delivered to me in time for them to be included in the project.  The stories that will not be known are the lives that are being touched by these 174 handmade items.   I know that I will be watching for some smiles on Clark County faces who are kept warm on these winter days by a handmade Caring Cap or scarf.