Crafty volunteers meet at HonorHealth in Scottsdale

During the annual HonorHealth Crafters Tea, held Feb. 28 at the Brady Conference Center at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, 9003 E. Shea Blvd., everyone was encouraged to wear hats—many of them handmade—to show off their personalities, crafting skills and creativity.

Volunteers from across the Valley, state and country also used their talent to create pillows for cancer patients, blankets and beanies for newborns, bags for wheelchair bound patients and a host of other homemade items. Many have personal connections to HonorHealth; others just love being creative.

“There are so many situations where the gift of a handmade item, each stitched with love, brings comfort to those who receive the items,” said Liz Hyatt, HonorHealth director of volunteer services. “Knowing someone in our community cared enough to think of them brings a lot of joy to a patient. It’s hard to find the right words to convey the comfort an eyeglass case brings to a patient or the relief a nurse has when a bright hearing aid pocket is available for a patient”

Two of the volunteers at the event have more than 25 years’ experience crafting for HonorHealth and many others are weekly volunteers who serve other areas of HonorHealth hospitals and know firsthand the need for their items.

“During the pandemic, we called upon our sewers to create personal bags for our operators to place their keyboard, headset and mouse in at the end of their shift, so equipment didn’t have to be shared,” Hyatt added. “Forty-eight bags were made – with pockets and personalization – within 2 days!”

In 2023, HonorHealth provided 1,554 skeins of yarn to members of the group and received almost 8,000 handmade items in return. The crafters also share their knowledge and experience by teaching moms who are on bed rest a simple pattern to make booties for their baby.

The program started in 1962 and is open to anyone with crafting skills. Email volunteers@honorhealth.com or call 480-587-5097 for get involved.