Storrs Library’s Novel Knitters collect chemo caps

April 14, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

Storrs Library Assistant Carole Mazzarino stands behind a table dedicated to creating chemo caps, which will be donated to the Massachusetts General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital at the end of May.
Reminder Publications photo by Chris Goudreau

LONGMEADOW – The Novel Knitters group at Storrs Library is collecting donations of hand knitted or crocheted chemo caps for patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital until May 31.  

A chemo cap is handmade hat for cancer patients who have lost their hair while undergoing chemotherapy.

Library Assistant Carole Mazzarino, who is the facilitator of the knitting group, told Reminder Publications this is the first year the library has organized a chemo cap donation program. Thus far, the Novel Knitters have created and donated 12 chemo caps.

“The knitters in general are very altruistic and I believe they will pull through,” she noted. “When they know that someone is in need they start knitting and we’ll probably have close to 50 [chemo caps] I’m sure.”

Mazzarino said she also considers the chemo caps donations to be symbolic of showing that community members care about cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

“I just think that anyone going through chemo who loses their hair; it would just be such a caring thing for them to receive a hat made somebody who just gave their time and talent because they care so much,” she added.

Mazzarino said the chemo cap donation program was her idea.

“I don’t know of any other knitting groups that do this,” she explained. “But I know that the Cancer Center with Mass. General is relatively new to our area and I just felt that that’s why I wanted our chemo caps to go to them.”

She continued, “I just felt that because we’re all women and sometimes [hair loss] is just a devastating side effect of chemo and we just wanted to all group together and be kind and do something for somebody else.”

Mazzarino said if there were a great response from the chemo cap donations, she would love to make the fundraiser an annual effort.

“It’s just important in life to do things for others and this is one way that we have some talent and we can do this and make somebody feel good,” she explained.

Novel Knitters, which consists of about 25 members and meets every Tuesday from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m., is a group that is open to residents of other communities as well.

Patterns for creating chemo caps are available in the Discovery Room at Storrs Library. Chemo caps must be made of soft washable yarn, Mazzarino said.

“I like working with bamboo [yarn],” she explained. “It comes in various colors and it works out nicely and it’s very soft and washable.”

For more information Mazzarino can be reached at 565-4182.

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