this past weekend, about half our town was still living without electricity and no one had any idea when school would start back up again. the temperatures were dropping and families were cold and kids were stir-crazy and wired with tense, aimless energy. all sense of routine and predictability had gone out the window. most grown-ups I know were obsessively chatting on Facebook, trying to discern where and how they could help while at the same time keeping track of any additional pending doom. many of us were wound up like mice in a stress lab.
so, when a friend suggested that I pull out my sewing machines and organize some sewing of warm things, I pounced. oh, to do something! and that is how it happened that one day, a few Facebook messages, and loads of fleece donations later about twenty crafters were huddled over cutting tables and sewing machines making hurricane hats….lots of them.
in all, we crafted for 3 hours and made 32 hats, 4 neck warmers and one blanket. all of which was hand-delivered by volunteers to folks that lost everything in the towns along the hard-hit Jersey shore. I decided to make hats our priority because you can wear a hat to stay warm while you sleep and also while you search through the rubble and reclaim your house. at the same time, it uses the least amount of fabric.
it has not been an easy week for new jersey. and, for our town the hardship has been a lack of heat and power….not for nothing but we are the luckiest of the lucky ones. we know it, too. yet, as I’m learning, the impotent feeling of knowing that others are struggling carries a weight all its own.
making hats isn’t going to solve any big picture problems, we know that. but for 3 hours we got to be actively working together to help out. and laughing, staying warm, making jokes and feeling a little bit normal.
the kids got to play and run and stop wondering why the grown-ups look so worried. they needed that, too.
{photo courtesy Rebecca Hersh}
it’s true what they say about a group of like-minded people. they really can make amazing things happen.
{photo courtesy Rebecca Hersh}
soon enough everyone returned to their worries and obsessing but a little bit warmer in fact and in spirit for the experience. and guess what arrived just as we were packing everything up? another big donation of fleece! so, locals, you up for another round of hat making? anyone else, got any warm fleece you want to donate?! jersey is strong and jersey is proud but right now it needs you! email me, please, if you can help out!
[…] know how I know? the hat making two weeks ago for those impacted by Hurricane Sandy was such a success that we are doing it again tomorrow! […]