Joe Kane, right, the program director of the Cancer House of Hope, helps Cynthia Hartdegen pack up some of the dozens of knitted projects which were donated by clients of the House to two groups which provide warm clothing items to homeless area residents. (Submitted photo)
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The members and staff of the Cancer House of Hope found a way to help two homeless populations this week with the donation of a host of knitted items.
Joe Kane, the program director of the House of Hope, said that various group and programs sponsored by the agency which supports cancer patients have knitted and crocheted dozens of scarves, hats, shawls and uncompleted projects and the fruits of their efforts were donated to two groups which provide warmth to some of the homeless in the area.
The Cancer House of Hope is a program of the Center for Human Development and was founded in Westfield to assist cancer patients and their families. Kane noted that the House, now located in West Springfield, will soon celebrate its 20thanniversary.
Cynthia Hartdegen, coordinator of a project to provide knitted blankets or shawls for clients of The Samaritan Inn, accepted the knitting projects at the House of Hope Monday and said that the donations will be split between two projects.
Some of the items will be incorporated into the “blankies” she and her friends from the Yarn and Thread Studio on School Street and fellow members of the First United Methodist Church make. She said that the “blankies” are provided to the clients of The Samaritan Inn so they can personalize their beds, wear as shawls while watching television and ultimately take away with them when they transition to other housing.
The scarves and hats, Hartdegen said, will be contributed to the Elk Angels,another group she knits with, who make scarves, hats and other warm items for homeless veterans.
In December, the Angels, members of the Westfield/West Springfield Lodge of Elk#1841, delivered more than a 200 hats, scarves and pairs of socks to the Springfield Veterans Affairs office for a program to assist homeless veterans.
