THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION PAGE 52 APRIL/MAY 2022 theconnectionsnj.com One cold winter evening, Richa Gupta and Sudha Pai got together with a few friends in their basement to knit and crochet chemo caps for cancer patients. Little did they know the impact this activity would have not only on the patients but on their members too! Today, Knit Crochet with Love (KCWL) has grown into a full-fledged non-profit organization of dedicated and caring members across the country with the motto to “Provide a drop of comfort, one cap at a time”. For a nominal yearly membership of $25.00, members get unlimited yarn and guidance to make chemo caps and blankets. Over the last 5 years, KCWL has been growing steadily in NJ with 4 different locations namely, Basking Ridge, Chatham, South Brunswick and Princeton. KCWL has a few out-of-state members as well. KCWL members have made over 10,000 caps and 150 blankets. Each cap or blanket is labeled, washed and packed in boxes and sent out to cancer centers and hospitals in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, Maryland, Chicago and the United Kingdom. Members have made caps for dislocated refugees from Afghanistan, LGBT kids and the Basking Ridge school crossing guards. Additionally, they have regularly donated lap blankets to the Dialysis center and the homeless shelters in Trenton and NY City. When wildlife in Australia was endangered, KCWL members made knitted nests to save the birds. As part of the innovation/creativity club, KCWL taught crochet to middle and high school students at the Rutgers Preparatory School, NJ. In addition to gaining a new skill, the students and their parents felt that the time was well spent supporting the worthy cause. Many students found this activity to be relaxing. Hence, KCWL would like to introduce knitting and crocheting to other middle and high schools. In March 2020, when disposable face masks were unavailable for the frontline health care workers, KCWL members set aside their knitting needles and crochet hooks to make over 10,000 fabric masks and surgical caps. This was a community project whose success depended on its dedicated members along with the residents of Basking Ridge and neighboring towns. Richa and Sudha were featured on Patch, NJ 12 News and TV Asia to talk about KCWL and its involvement with the community. They received the Valairco award for community service and a $2000 grant from Rutgers School Of Medicine. “Thank you letters” from various hospitals and patients receiving caps/blankets, have continued to inspire and motivate KCWL members. The members find knitting and crocheting therapeutic, relaxing, calming and meditative. KCWL has helped form new friendships and bonds. The group members along with Richa and Sudha, continue to make caps and blankets while keeping a busy work and home schedule. A lot of companies encourage their employees to engage in community service and reward charities and as part of that, some of the KCWL members and their colleagues have listed KCWL as their preferred charity for corporate support. With the help of corporate and private donors, KCWL has been able to serve the community in multiple ways. Since March 2020 with the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, KCWL has temporarily terminated its in-person meetings but is hopeful of resuming its weekly meetings very soon. For more information or to become a member visit www.knittcrochetwithlove.org Email:knitcrochetwithlove@gmail.com Instagram: https://www. instagram.com/knitcrochetwithlove/ Facebook group request: https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/804296159712983/ KNIT CROCHET WITH LOVE (KCWL) KCWL members have made over 10,000 caps and 150 blankets. Each cap or blanket is labeled, washed and packed in boxes and sent out to cancer centers and hospitals in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, Maryland, Chicago and the United Kingdom. Members have made caps for dislocated refugees from Afghanistan, LGBT kids and the Basking Ridge school crossing guards. Additionally, they have regularly donated lap blankets to the Dialysis center and the homeless shelters in Trenton and NY City. When wildlife in Australia was endangered, KCWL members made knitted nests to save the birds. Community News... Medicare Solutions Medicare Plans from DĂƌŐŽƚ͛Ɛ DĞĚŝĐĂƌĞ ^ŽůƵƟŽŶƐ
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