Heartwarming holiday handicrafts

Local knitters, American Legion Auxiliary donate custom hats to veterans

Inside the LOEL Senior Center, a group of ladies were gathered around a table, knitting needles in hand and enjoying the company of good friends. The results of months of work were lined up in the center — 201 multicolor hats to be donated to local veterans.

Knitters admired the work of their peers remarking how some hats matched their outfit.

“No shopping,” one woman said jokingly.

The knitting group, which typically meets on Fridays from 9 to 9:30 a.m., began the project in May using yarn donated to LOEL.

By October, they finished their goal of 150 hats, but kept using spare scraps of yarn to create more. One member, Ann Voegele, created the most with a total of 34 hats, most of which feature a signature pom pom on top.

Members of the Lodi American Legion Auxiliary Unit 22 were on hand to collect the hat donation, which will be distributed to veterans in local care homes, hospital facilities and at the Livermore Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Dec. 19. The hats are included as part of the annual Auxiliary’s Christmas project which began in 1970 to deliver gifts to veterans.

They also try to include the wives of veterans as well, according to Bonnie Mayer from the American Legion Auxiliary.

“A lot that live in care homes or hospitals either don’t have family or their family lives far away. We want to make sure that they’re remembered on Christmas,” said Deborah Straight, first vice president of the American Legion Auxiliary from Post 22.

Bags given to veterans include a card, socks and some candy along with a hat or scarf. The Christmas gift program is one of the many programs funded through the Auxiliary’s poppy fund. In May, the organization raises money by selling poppy flowers to the public.

Both groups work on other community donation projects. Some members work on knitting hats for babies born at Lodi Memorial Hospital. The Auxiliary also delivers Buddy Baskets to veterans who are moving into a new home and may not have supplies like towels or other simple necessities.

Anyone is welcome to join the knitting group, regardless of skill level. Some women in the group started learning in May when the project began. A majority are widows who enjoy the company and activity provided by the group with the help of the LOEL Senior Center for providing the space.

“Another thing nice thing about the group is that everyone pitches in and helps everyone,” said Jackie Starks. “We’re a very loving group.”

Knitters enjoy being able to put their talents to a good cause, and it doesn’t feel like work to make their projects.

“Once you learn it, it’s relaxing,” said Dorothy Alvillar.

BEA AHBECK/NEWS-SENTINEL New member Darien Provence, of Acampo, and Pat Reynolds, of Lodi, chat and laugh as they knit as members of the Loel Center Knitting Group meet to work on knitting hats for veterans in a Christmas Gift Program, which they presented to the American...

BEA AHBECK/NEWS-SENTINEL Members of the Loel Center Knitting Group, including Amy Morita, of Lodi, far left, pack up the hats they are donating as they meet to work on knitting hats for veterans in a Christmas Gift Program, which they presented to the American Legion Auxiliary...