Health care assistant students craft for homeless

The health care assistant (HCA) students are using needles to assist the homeless population of Whitehorse. On Monday, March 28, these students will be knitting and crocheting hats and scarves that will be donated to the Whitehorse Outreach Van.

The students were motivated to help the homeless when they were involved in Whitehorse Connects this past fall. The HCA students volunteered their time providing basic services to the homeless. Immediately following this event, the students decided to work together and make warm hats and scarves for the Outreach Van.

“We find it satisfying making something that is needed by people who are less fortunate, and it is something that we can do during a heavy program”, said HCA student, Nicole Malcolm.

Some students suddenly became knitting and crocheting instructors for their fellow classmates. The students began meeting once a week to work on their projects. With donations from the local wool shop Knit Now, and the accumulation of knitting needles, wool and crochet hooks from wanted ads in the newspaper, the students were able to begin.

“This isn’t a part of the HCA program but it certainly speaks to the inclusion of community health in our curriculum and to the aspirations of our students”, said instructor of the HCA program, Patricia McClelland.

The students have already donated 4 hats and they have 5 more hats and 4 scarves to come. Although these numbers may seem low, it is quite a bit for the ten students who are taking a total of 14 courses in 8 months.

The media are welcome to attend their crafting session and view the hats and scarves on Monday in room A2706 from 12 noon to 1pm.