Caring Crochet
When the pandemic first hit, like many other people, I knew I wanted to help but didn't know what I could contribute. Then, I saw that my cousin, who works in an assisted living facility in Connecticut, posted one day on social media a photo of an example of ear savers, with a simple caption to the photo: "Someone, help please! Our ears feel like they are falling off from the masks!"
Well, here is where I could help!
They were simple enough to crochet, and I have buckets of yarn sitting around! Also, each year I participate in fundraising for Walk MS, and I make commemorative pins using buttons, so I already had the buttons... and had just received confirmation that the event was canceled. I was pretty crushed about that, but glad that my buttons could serve purpose elsewhere!
I got to work and shipped off this batch of ear savers to Connecticut. When I posted this photo on my socials, I asked if anyone is an essential worker who needed them.
The response was overwhelming! Yes, people requested them, but also, people were inspired to help. I had a couple of friends mail me money for more buttons, and friends mailed me their spare buttons! I was very touched. People also asked for the crochet pattern so that they could make some for their own community.
I made probably a hundred of them, and was able to mail out many care packages to essential workers who were everyone from nurses at Johns Hopkins hospital, my dentist office, to my friends who work at grocery stores and in maintenance jobs. Later, I saw friends posting their own hand made ear savers on social media... and so it just kept paying forward.
Even though I didn't know how I could possibly help the community, a need came up that was so easy for me to meet.
The lesson is that we are all part of a tapestry, and even if you don't think you have anything to contribute, I assure you that you do. We are all unique, and there is something in you that your community needs. Just be patient with yourself and do your best every day.
-Anonymous