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The 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Spouses’ Group recently gathered for a great cause — to crochet items for cancer patients.
The event started after Miroslava Bingham, 721st AMXS resource adviser and cancer survivor, sent out an email about “Crochet for Cancer,” a non-profit organization, and how it would be a great idea to start something similar with the squadron’s spouses’ group.
“When I first started losing my hair, it was in the winter and I remember my head being really cold,” Bingham said. “(While I was in the hospital) my husband brought me a hat, then someone from my church crocheted me a hat and I wore that thing all the time. After the first one, I received about five more after that. It’s those little things that show people are truly thinking about you. How awesome is it for those (cancer-stricken) children and adults to know someone out there is thinking about them?”
Julie Brutto, 721st AMXS key spouse, became interested after seeing Bingham’s email, so she informed the spouses, and the crocheting began.
“After Mrs. Bingham sent out the email, the two of us worked it out and decided to have classes,” Brutto said. “We had a really great turnout. There were a lot of spouses I hadn’t met before; it was great to meet them while doing something for other people.”
Because the crocheted items are going to cancer patients, the spouses have to be cautious when making them.
“We used (Crochet for Cancer’s) guidelines to create the hats during our class,” Brutto said. “We used their guidelines, because when dealing with cancer patients, there are higher standards due to their weaker immune systems.”
The event began as an idea, but quickly grew into a regular get-together.
“I started by putting the event on our spouses’ Facebook page, not as an official gathering, but it turned into just that,” Brutto said. “I have people constantly asking me when we’re going to do it again.”
Not only is it for a good cause, but it also gives the spouses the opportunity to meet each other, form friendships and get more involved in the community.
“Seeing all the different spouses who might not know each other all that well come together to create things for other people is so great,” Brutto said. “Even though it might seem like it’s just a hat, it’s a lot more than that. It’s a piece of comfort made by a group of strangers in the hopes of bringing a smile to someone who’s having a hard time.”
Maj. Sean Goode, 721st AMXS commander, said he’s proud of the spouses’ group for making the project a reality by organizing classes, teaching crochet and strengthening the bonds between the squadron’s families all while doing something great for so many others.
