Local Project Knits Up a Storm to Keep Others Warm

“My favorite inspirational quote is 'No one can do everything, but everyone can do something!'" said Dana, founder of KnitHope. The charity organization uses hundreds of volunteers to knit scarves, hats and other comfy goods that are donated to nonprofits, including NHCO. These handmade goods go to those who benefit from our seasonal Sharing Projects and people in our Older Adults Programs.

In 2008, the novice knitter was a stay-at-home mom with a newborn and a two year old. She mostly made scarves that she gifted to friends and family until "everyone was

pretty maxed out on scarves." Knitting was her creative outlet, so she decided to donate the goods to local organizations. Knowing that knitters love to knit, she convinced a local library to put out a donation box for other enthusiasts to contribute their

handmade goods. The first year, she collected a hundred handmade scarves.

"I was really shocked. I thought maybe I'd get a handful of them," Dana added. At the time, she was volunteering at NHCO's North Boroughs food pantry and approached Cathy Pschirer, NHCO's In Service of Seniors Coordinator, about donating the goods.

"It was a perfect opportunity," Cathy said. "The seniors love it, and they say how beautiful they (scarves) are."

KnitHope recently surpassed 10,000 donated and distributed handmade items. "That's ten thousand smiles," Dana said while quoting her mother's friend. Even after that milestone, Dana still stays humble. "I'm basically just the middle man between really great, creative volunteers and really great organizations."