When I read the topic for the WAVES Newsletter for December my initial reaction was, "I really can't think of any truly unique way in which I give service to others in the course of my daily life. I had better pass on this one." And then, I did think of a way I am doing service right in the comfort of my own home.

For medical reasons I am becoming increasingly homebound and simply cannot do community service in a traditional manner. Last February, I discussed this problem with our director of retired senior volunteers. She asked me if I could knit, and when I said that I could, she told me about an ongoing service to those in local nursing homes: that of knitting lap robes for residents. These robes are not as large as afghans but are still sizable at approximately 36 x 40 inches. Bright colors are preferred, but otherwise it is just straight garter stitch knitting. The lap robes are rather plain but attractive, nevertheless, as they are usually done in bright colors. The volunteer group has also asked for knitted pea caps, also very simple and designed to keep the heads of many youngsters toasty warm throughout the cold winter months here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

So, I have been quite busy with my lap robes and pea caps. Somewhat to my surprise, I truly enjoy doing this service. I am strictly an amateur knitter (no sweaters or gloves) and somewhat slow due to arthritis in my hands. Yarn is available through the volunteer agency, but I prefer to buy my own so I don't run out in the middle of a project. In addition, I get to choose my own colors. The small sum involved in knitting a lap robe (something over $5.00) is well worth the joy I find in creating something usable for others. I allow an hour or two, sometimes more, a day, depending on my schedule. It is so relaxing, and I can put on my favorite music while I knit. An added bonus is that it is very good for my arthritic fingers. The pea caps take far less time and cost even less to knit. Usually, I use the rest of the ball or two of yarn that remains after I finish a lap robe. The more colors used in a pea cap, the better!

So far, since February of this year I have completed about seven lap robes (one robe takes me about 35-40 hours to knit) and approximately six pea caps. I do hope that the need for them continues, because I really enjoy this activity and feel I am making a contribution, however small, to help those who cannot afford to buy them. Even though I never get to see anything I knit in use, I can still envision the physical comfort people will get from them.