Caps for Kids
A group of local crafters recently distributed 4,000 hats for charity and is busily creating more.
Called Caps for Kids, the group of about 60 knitters and crocheters begin making hats in January for distribution in December.
The group began making the hats 14 years ago for needy children, but expanded its service after learning adults also needed warm clothing.
“It started with the food kitchens,” said group organizer Betty Bauer of Butler. “Parents would bring their children with them. Parents said they were cold too and asked ‘Do you have anybody who makes larger caps?'”
Bauer said crafters join the group through word-of-mouth. Recipients are determined the same way and include residential treatment facilities, group homes, soup kitchens and safe houses in Butler County and beyond. “If you could see when we sort the hats, the rainbow of colors, it's just beautiful,” Bauer said.
Although crafters create the hats in small groups or individually at home, Bauer and Catherine Kunze of Prospect ensure they are delivered to a storage space donated by Roy Smith, owner of Royprographics in Cranberry Township.
Smith and his son, Roy Jr., also help the group by supplying boxes, magic markers, labels and tape and by sending company calendars to the knitters.
“God's been very good to me,” Smith said. “So, you know, you have to turn that around.”
On top of that, Smith also began mailing the group's newsletter.
“I would say (the benefit for givers and receivers) is even,” Bauer said. “Otherwise, why would you make hats for people you'll never meet. It's not for your child or niece or nephew, it's for strangers. I don't even get to meet most of the people.”
Volunteers include families who have passed down the tradition of knitting and crocheting from grandmother to granddaughter. The youngest crafter is 23 and one of the oldest, 94-year-old Esther Lutzic of Valencia, kept busy by crafting 130 caps last year.
“I love doing it for the people,” Lutzic said. “And it gives me something to do.”
Lutzic's daughter-in-law Karen, of Valencia, said the crocheting keeps her mother-in-law active although she's already full of more spunk than most. Lutzic also crocheted 30 caps for infants at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and 50 to 100 for other local church organizations. Lutzic said most of the yarn she uses is donated by family and friends.
Caps for Kids also takes volunteers from senior homes such as Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople and St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars.
Anyone is welcome to volunteer or help out any way they can, Bauer said. Many volunteers simply donate yarn so that those who can knit or crochet but not afford yarn may still help.
Participation is not limited to women. Jerry Burr of Zelienople loves to make black and yellow Steelers caps on his Knifty Knitter loom.
He got involved after a few of his female friends began taking classes at a local fabric store. After class, they'd tell Burr what they learned and he decided it sounded like fun. He began knitting caps, 1,900 to date, in four sizes ranging from preemie to adult, with his wife making pom-poms to place on top.
“It's very simple,” Burr said about his craft. “I call it knitting for dummies.”
Knitters work in four different surrounding counties of Butler, along with family members of knitters throughout the country who mail in their handcrafted caps.
“People have grown to know about us,” Bauer said. “So now they come to us looking to help.”
To participate or for more information, call Bauer at 724-865-9717.
