For the second year in a row, members of the Dana Hall community knitted and crocheted hats, scarves and other warm accessories to donate to newborns. Students, faculty and staff members used their free time after school and during weekend activities to make the items that were given to Cradles to Crayons in Brighton, Mass.

Assistant Librarian Arianna Lechan introduced a campaign called Caps for Good, run by the organization Save the Children, to Dana Hall last fall. Caps for Good asked for knit hats to be distributed to newborns in Asia, Africa and Latin America. A knitter herself, Lechan thought making hats for Caps for Good would be a fun weekend activity for students. After receiving a great response at her first knitting and crocheting session, Lechan decided to keep the project going.

“Even though the official Caps for Good campaign through Save the Children did not run this year, I still wanted to knit for a good cause,” Lechan explained. “Especially since students asked me if we were participating in Caps for Good again at the beginning of the year!”

With Dana Hall’s existing relationship with Cradles to Crayons, Lechan and Upper School Science teacher and Cradles to Crayons volunteer coordinator Angela Macedo asked Cradles to Crayons if they would like to receive the knit donations this year. A representative from Cradles to Crayons said they would love to.

Last year Dana sent 200 caps to Save the Children, with the extra help of one student who made 100 on her own. This year, the Dana community sent an impressive 67 hats, 16 scarves, 11 pairs of mittens, 3 blankets and one tiny backpack to Cradles to Crayons.

Dana Hall provided the yarn, needles and crochet hooks to all participants.

“Last year it was wonderful how committed the Dana community was to Caps for Good. I was curious if the second time would be met with the same amount of enthusiasm, and I’m happy to say that it was,” said Lechan.

To learn more about Cradles to Crayons, visit http://cradlestocrayons.org.