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In This Issue:
BWH Bulletin's year-end issue is a time to highlight BWHers' proudest moments from the past year. We asked you to share one BWH-related memory from 2014 that was meaningful to you, and you offered touching stories about colleagues, patients, families, events and milestones that inspired you. We hope you enjoy these moments.
Warming Hands, Heads and Hearts in the Local Community
For more than 20 years, I have coordinated a community service project called Caps for Kids. We make and collect handmade hats, mittens, scarves and other warm winter items that we donate to children in Boston who are in need of warm winter accessories. Over the years, our program has grown, and in 1999, I was joined by Candace Lowe at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We now both coordinate this program and have collected thousands of hats-including more than 10,000 hats each year in the past few years. We have over 300 volunteers who make the hats and help us in various ways.
Organizing a project of this size is at times overwhelming. Many tasks involve getting our donations ready for distribution to 45 schools, community health programs, homeless shelters, newborn nurseries and other community organizations. So many children are in need of warm things to wear.
At this time of year, once we start delivering the handmade items, it becomes even clearer how all of the work is worth it. My phones calls are answered with "Oh, I was hoping you'd call! We so desperately need your hats again this year!" We receive hugs from teachers and administrators. The kids yell out, "The hat ladies are here!" and "I still have your hat from last year!"
The best day is the day we travel to Tobin Elementary School near BWH. We are able to spend some time at the school while the students come out class by class to choose a hat and scarf. We tell them that the hats were made especially for them, and we show them the tag that tells them who made each item. They come running over to ask, "Who made my hat?" with huge smiles, and often, hugs.
After all these years, I am still amazed at how much a special handmade hat means to a child, especially those in need. It's made with love just for them, and those who make them or help with this program are equally warmed knowing they made a difference.
JOAN CASBY
Senior Physical Therapist, BWH Rehabilitation Services