| |
by Fay Grasty
The Take My Hands circle knitted baby caps like these for children in Malawi and Bangladesh
The Take My Hands Circle from Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, has found ways to dedicate their handwork to bettering the world. From creating pieces for their sanctuary to knitting baby caps, the circle members have given warmth, life and love to many around the world.
In late 2006 and early 2007, Take My Hands participated in a project called Caps to the Capital, sponsored by Save the Children and Warm Up America. After hearing that in developing countries, “three out of four newborn deaths could be avoided with simple, low-cost tools that already exist, such as … knit caps to keep babies warm,”1 the Take My Hands circle was determined to help.
 The Take My Hands circle displays the caps, afghans and scarves they knitted.They knitted baby caps and sent them to Save the Children, who pledged to take the hats to Washington, D.C., in January of 2007 as a witness to the concern of people in the United States for mothers and children around the world. Thanks to groups like Take My Hands, Save the Children sent 280,000 baby caps to Malawi and Bangladesh.
The Take My Hands Circle has been together for nearly 40 years. The circle members meet once a month for fellowship and a meal, and between meetings they work on their projects at home. They have used their talents for needlepoint to create stoles, chair covers, chrismons, badges and other items for their church. They have also turned their talents to knitting, creating afghans for people who are homeless and for children at Victory Junction, a camp for children with chronic serious illnesses. They have made caps and scarves for Classroom Central, a supply store for Charlotte’s children in need, and they have sent caps and sweaters to Hungary and Malawi.
1. State of the World’s Mothers 2006 : Saving the Lives of Mothers and Newborns. Westport, Conn.: Save the Children, 2006. |
|
