Community Knitters Support Local Children in Need

A heartwarming demonstration of community spirit is on display as many volunteers from across Stamford and neighboring towns have been knitting hats for Back to School Shop (BTSS). Some volunteers knit at home, while others gather in groups at local churches, libraries, and other locations. Though their settings may differ, they’re united by a shared commitment to support local children in need.

What began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to stay connected and engaged while traditional volunteer opportunities were limited has since blossomed into a beloved tradition. Today, every child participating in BTSS receives a hand-knit hat—each one made with care and compassion.

The Back to School Shop, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential school supplies and clothing to elementary school children from low-income families, will distribute these handmade hats as part of their 11th annual program in July. They expect up to 400 children at the event and plan to have a handmade hat for each child, thanks to the support of the local community.

Michele Beudert, of Old Greenwich has been knitting for Back to School Shop for 5 years. She says she loves knitting and knits everywhere she goes, whether it’s a doctor’s waiting room or a long trip on an airplane. She generally knits 50 hats a year for BTSS, and last year she put her 7-year-old grandson to work helping her make pom-poms for the hats. Beudert is a Sunday School teacher at St. Francis Episcopal Church, and the young children in her class bring the hats she’s knit for Back to School Shop to the church service to be blessed by the priest before they are donated.

Muriel Ashley is a long-time knitter and a relative newcomer to Stamford. She knit hats for Back to School Shop last year, and also volunteered at the event. She says her volunteer position allowed her to see the excitement of the children as they check out at the end of their free shopping spree where they’ve chosen brand new coats, sneakers, clothing, backpacks and many other items in addition to the beautiful, warm, handmade hats. Says Ashley, “The joy in their faces is unbelievable! They love showing their parents all of their new school clothes and supplies!”

Betsy Cogliano moved to Stamford to be close to her family and ended up joining two knitting groups, one at St. Cecelia’s Church and one at the Harry Bennett branch of the Stamford library. The groups gave her a way to integrate into the community while doing something meaningful at the same time. Cogliano explains “it makes me feel so good to help children who may not have what they need to go back to school.” Some of the others in her groups also knit for BTSS, and last year she dropped off a total of 75 hats.

“Tell a Yarn” at the Westport Library is a knitting group and book club in one. It’s members, who range in age from mid-20’s to 80’s, work on their needlework projects while a librarian reads to them from a soon-to-be published book. Several of the members are knitting hats for Back to School Shop and express their enthusiasm for the project. Barbara Wang shared, “I’m hoping that a small someone finds their favorite hat and it keeps them warm all winter long!” Trammi Nguyen, who knits hats and volunteers at the Back to School Shop event added, “it’s probably the most rewarding volunteer work I’ve ever done. There is no better feeling than to be able to make something for a kid that you know is going to love it and use it.”

Betsy Stone has been knitting hats for BTSS since the knitting project began and estimates that she has donated 150 to 200 hats to the organization. When asked why she does it, she replied, “I don’t think there is anything in the world that is more important to a child than to feel like they matter-that someone cares about them. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you are helping a child stay warm on the cold winter days and letting them know that someone cared enough about them to take the time to make a hat just for them.”

"Knowing that something as simple as a warm hat can make a difference in a child’s life is incredibly rewarding," said Lorraine Kweskin, Board Member and Coordinator of the hat program for Back to School Shop. "It’s such a joy to see the children react to the variety of hats each year and search for their favorite! How lucky are we to live in such a generous and compassionate community!”

Back to School Shop, Inc. is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide economically disadvantaged elementary school children in the local community with brand-new clothing and school supplies to help build the confidence and enthusiasm they need for a successful start to the school year.

Information about Back to School Shop can be found here: https://www.backtoschoolshop.org