Made With Love

April 20, 2018

Sylvia (pictured in the center wearing red) with her crochet group

There are numerous ways someone can give back to their community. You can donate money, participate in food drives, or even sponsor an event—all of which are greatly appreciated! Sylvia, a former resident of Susan’s Place, chooses to give back in her own special way. Every Friday and Sunday, she returns to a place she once called home to host “Sylvia’s Circle,” a crochet group held at Susan’s Place.

Sylvia started crochet knitting when she was a young girl. She says it was always a “soothing” experience for her and she wanted to share that feeling with her friends at Susan’s Place. In November 2017, she began teaching some of the friends she made at Susan’s Place, how to crochet in the shelter’s living room. Those same friends later encouraged Sylvia to start a crochet group for all the residents at Susan’s Place to enjoy. Sylvia was reluctant at first, but after two months of persuading, she started “Sylvia’s Circle” the following January.

A resident of Susan's Place shows
off the latest project started in "Sylvia's Circle."

Last month, Sylvia was thrilled to have reconnected with her family and has since moved out of Susan’s Place. She still returns to the residence to teach her two-hour class, twice a week. “I left, but when I come here I feel so happy because I am with the girls,” Sylvia said. “We have each other in this group,” she continued. The group gives the women time to de-stress and bond through their shared experiences, they talk about everything from homelessness to cooking to family.

“The group is therapeutic, it’s a real stress reliever. There is also a sisterhood here, it’s the reason I come every week,” said one resident. “I like the creativity of this group,” she continued. Every week, Sylvia sets a new goal for the group working towards one large group project. This week, she asked everyone in the group to crochet small squares that will be used to create one large blanket to hang up in the shelter. Every square will have the name of the person who knitted it. “It symbolizes the unity we have in the shelter,” Sylvia said.

Sylvia does not want to stop her volunteer efforts with her crochet group. She also wants to dedicate some of her time by volunteering in the kitchen at Susan’s Place, by helping to prepare meals for the residents at least twice a week. Sylvia says she’s had a positive experience at Susan’s Place and wants to help create that same experience for the women who still live there and, like her, hope to have a home of their own once again.

A bag, blanket, and baby cap crocheted by a SP resident.

Your support, whether as a donor, sponsor, volunteer, or spreading the good word about Care for the Homeless, is an inspiration to Sylvia to continue helping the residents of Susan’s Place. Thank you for insuring that the residents continue to have safe, supportive shelter while our hard-working housing specialists seek permanent housing placement for the residents. In 2017, 110 women were placed into permanent housing with the help of kind and generous individuals like you. THIS is how you and all our friends are ending homelessness. Thank you!