Coppell Local Group Knit Wits Donates 2,500 Masks

From City of Coppell:

Knitting, crocheting, and sewing may just be hobbies to some, but they are a labor of love for the Knit Wits — the clever name of a busy group of senior ladies cranking out useful projects for those in need.

The group, which formed through the Coppell Senior and Community Center, started as a class on how to knit a hat on a round loom in April 2014 and has evolved into a satellite group of Love Thy Baby. The charitable group within the North Texas non-profit Love Thy Neighbor focuses on providing items such as blankets and hats for babies in need at local hospitals. Since that first class in 2014, the Knit Wits have made and donated more than 56,000 items.

While the Knit Wits' main focus is filling the needs of infants born into economic hardship, recent events have prompted them to shift their efforts to another timely need — masks.

Since the spread of COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic in March, the Knit Wits have sewn and donated 2,575 masks to various people and organizations in the area including Children's Hospital, UT Southwestern Hospital, Parkland Hospital, John Peter Smith Hospital, Frisco Assisted Living, Kroger employees in Coppell, Metrocrest Kitchen volunteers, Love Thy Neighbor Kitchen volunteers, Flower Mound Hospital and Flower Mound Senior Center. This also includes 46 special masks with nose wires and adjustable elastic for patrol officers with the Coppell Police Department.

"The members of Knit Wits wanted to give back as the COVID-19 crisis escalated," member Trudy White said. "Making masks was a way of doing so."

The Knit Wits also recently donated 194 masks to Navajo Nation, a large Native American reservation in the southwestern US hit hard by COVID-19. Member Diana Marx was already sewing masks for Navajo Nation through her chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution when the Knit Wits caught wind and wanted to help.

"Daughters of the American Revolution members nationwide have responded to COVID-19 by hand sewing masks for communities in need," Marx said. "When my friends at Knit Wits learned of my efforts they graciously offered to participate for this nation in need. Knit Wits is a group effort of many women who do mighty things when united in a good cause."

No matter the availability or skill level, each of the 85 members of Knit Wits have found a way to contribute to the cause from sewing the masks, cutting fabric and ironing ties to donating money for supplies. Members can also be seen at the Coppell Farmers Market selling masks as a way to fund their efforts. The next mask sale is planned for August 1.

While the main purpose of the group is to serve others' needs, White said it also fulfills the members personal needs to be productive, creative, and feel useful in the community. Members are practicing social distancing and communicating mostly by email instead of meeting in person right now, but the companionship and support the group provides is still felt at a time when it's needed most.

"Many of our members look forward to meeting each week to compare items they have created, exchange patterns, learn new techniques, share stories about families, and discuss problems of the world," White said. "But for some in the group, the camaraderie and friendship they share fulfills so much more. We celebrate birthdays, share food, members check on and help each other…it's like a small family of friends."

To learn more about the Knit Wits or to donate, please visit the Coppell Knit Wits Facebook page.

To learn other ways to get involved and give back to your community, visit coppelltx.gov/volunteer.

This press release was produced by City of Coppell. The views expressed here are the author’s own.