In the quiet corners of the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library, a vibrant new community is forming, one loop of yarn at a time. The Katz X Ginsburg Library Crochet Club, a mix of students and staff, is channeling creativity into compassion by hand-making tiny, colorful hats for newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Temple University Hospital.
For Veronica Bochenek, the club organizer, the value of each hat lies in the compassion it carries.
“It’s exciting to bring a new life into this world, but it can be scary and uncertain and unfamiliar,” says Bochenek. “There is something I think very comforting about knowing that someone in this world, someone in the Temple community, is taking the time to make a little gift that is cute and comforting.”
The value of each handmade hat, Bochenek explains, lies in the human connection it represents. The club’s focus isn’t on meeting rigid quotas or achieving “perfection”, but on fostering a welcoming and relaxed environment.
“I don’t really want it to be something that becomes very hardcore or has particular deadlines or agendas,” Bochenek notes. “I envision it primarily as a place for people to unwind and get to know each other.”
Courtney Egar, the Learning and Engagement Librarian, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the club’s success as a space for community building.
“It’s just been a wonderful community-building experience,” Egar shares. “There are new people every week, some are learning, some people come in knowing how to crochet. So part of the fun is teaching them to crochet.”
The gentle, rhythmic nature of crocheting has also proven to be a therapeutic escape for students grappling with the pressures of academic life.
“It was relaxing and it was kind of invigorating,” said Bochenek. “It was nice to get back into a craft that I’ve been doing for a while.”
These tiny hats are more than just yarn; they’re a thread connecting students, faculty, and staff to a very special cause right here in North Philadelphia.
With every loop and pull of yarn, The Katz and Ginsburg Library Crochet Club continues to weave comfort, creativity, and community, one heartfelt thread at a time, bringing a little warmth and color to Temple’s smallest patients.
The Katz X Ginsburg Library Crochet Club meets every Wednesday from 12 to 1 PM in the Ginsburg Health Sciences Library’s Collaboration Space (Room 160). Students, faculty, and staff from any program are welcome to attend. This initiative is a collaboration between Warmth & Wellness and the Pediatric Interest Group from the Katz School of Medicine. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand new to crochet, you’re invited to lend a hand for this wonderful cause, unwind, and build community. You are also welcome to bring your own personal project and materials to work on during this time.
For more information, you can contact Courtney Eger at courtney.eger@temple.edu.
Be the first to comment