January 29, 2020
David Dyer, Executive Director of the Cross Cancer Institute, left, enjoys a visit with Diane Checknita, an inpatient at the Cross Cancer Institute. Blanket gift-giving is a Christmas eve tradition here, with many of them donated by community members and groups. This past festive season, AHS’ community craft club pitched in to crochet a few blankets.
Story & photo by Vanessa Gomez
EDMONTON — The Alberta Health Services’ IT team at the CN Tower brought their considerable crocheting talents this past holiday season with homemade blankets for patients at the Cross Cancer Institute (CCI).
Their community craft club formed in early 2019 when Betty Zeng, an IT Analyst, showed her team a few of the beautiful scarves she’d made while teaching crocheting to friends who survived breast cancer.
“Some co-workers became very interested in learning, so we got together during lunch time to begin creating a few things,” says Zeng. “More people began joining. It’s been fun sharing what we’ve created as well as learning from each other.”
The craft club also gives members a chance to take a breather from work as they bond with their colleagues and build community.
“Sometimes we’re so busy and can’t get out to move until the lunch hour,” says Carol Holod, Systems Analyst. “It’s nice to be able to get together for an hour, relax and learn something new. Betty has been a great teacher and inspiration.”
Yarn is donated by club members, but people outside of the club have also pitched in. Creations include stuffed animals, blankets, baby clothes, dish cloths, scarves and Christmas ornaments.
As the club grew, its members felt the urge to give back to the community and share their creations — and decided to donate their crocheted blankets to cancer patients at the Cross.
Each blanket takes about 40 squares — which are crafted individually by club members — and later crocheted together into the larger, finished blanket.
Giving blankets to inpatients on Christmas Eve is a longstanding tradition here. Most blankets are donated by community members and groups to show their appreciation for the institute.
Delivering the blankets this year were David Dyer, Executive Director of the CCI, accompanied by nurses.
“It was a great pleasure to give these special gifts to our inpatients,” says Dyer. “It’s hard to describe how surprised and pleased patients and families are when they hear the blankets are handmade by someone who was wanting to make the holiday season just a little bit better. It was an amazing gift from our AHS staff.”
The first blanket was presented to a mother of two who was facing the possibility of cancer for the third time. Two more blankets were given to gift to CCI inpatients.
“Christmas is a time of giving and having good times with family and friends,” says Zeng. “For inpatients at the Cross Cancer, they might not be able to go home for the holidays, but if we can provide them with some comfort and warmth, it can really help.”
