The Chester County Hospital Knitters club has been a cornerstone of the hospital’s volunteer outreach to patients and families. Formed in 2006 with six members, the club now has at least 30 to 40 participants. In 2018 alone, the club crafted 650 beanies for hospital patients undergoing chemotherapy (known as “chemo caps”) and another 1,900 for newborns (with seasonal themes), along with about 450 baby blankets, and countless red and pink scarves. The club recently fielded a request from the NICU nurses for booties, so they’ll soon be added to the mix.
A couple of the women also sew. Last year, they made 424 Chester Bears, a small stuffed animal that’s handed out to children in the emergency department to help them feel more comfortable. The Women’s Auxiliary to Chester County Hospital helps offset some of the cost of the stuffing and yarn, but the materials and labor are otherwise donated by the volunteer members of the club.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the hospital this past March, the club shifted gears and put their skills to the test. “By the time the virus hit our region there wasn’t a mask to be found anywhere,” said Andy Gordon, director of Business Development and Strategy at CCH. “At first, we were resistant to the idea of using homemade masks within the hospital — we wanted to be sure they would keep our staff and patients safe.”
Then the Centers for Disease Control issued guidance supporting the use of homemade masks in certain areas of the hospital. “We put out the call to action and the community responded,” said Ashley Kopp, director of Development, Major Gifts and Donor Relations. “Within days we had over 200 sewers sign up and many of them were part of the CCH knitting club. Overall, we probably had 500 sewers or more who contributed to our project.”
The masks were made of a medical grade fabric that can be sterilized in an autoclave. Chester County Hospital was fortunate to have enough material on hand to distribute to sewers. The mask pattern was vetted by the hospital’s frontline health care team with prototypes and tweaks quickly made before sewers began. “In total the hospital received over 600,000 completed masks,” Kopp said.
Although the CCH Knitters club hasn’t been able to meet in the same way they have in the past, that hasn’t stopped their dedication to the cause. They continue to make baby hats, blankets, chemo hats, bears, pillows and scarves while at home. “They contact me when they have things to drop off,” said Carol Dunigan, the hospital’s volunteer coordinator. “Hopefully one day soon we can return and get together to knit in person.”