Westminster Woman Finds Joy in Creating Unique Wigs for Children with Cancer
By Carly Smith, Media Specialist, Westminster Stake
We want to introduce you to Westminster resident Amy Droste who started volunteering for The Magic Yarn Project in 2018. “The Magic Yarn Project provides whimsical, giggle-inducing character wigs and beanies that invite children into the world of imagination and play during difficult times,” said Amy. “Thanks to our generous donors, wigs are always free for the families who receive them.”
When Amy started working with The Magic Yarn Project she found it a great stress reliever. Amy’s mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2012 and by 2018 things were taking a toll on her. For the past six years, Amy has been donating her time and talents to something that could help make children smile during their cancer treatments. Amy said, “Knowing how a small thing as a fun, soft character beanie would provide a smile to a child during a tough time helped me a lot.”
Amy shared that before her mother passed, her mom gave her only a few requests to honor. One of them being, “To make those kids smile.” Amy has honored that request valiantly by carrying on and sharing her gifts with The Magic Yarn Project. Amy describes this important work, “Working on fun, whimsical, soft character wigs and beanies for children fighting for their lives and needing a way to escape into a world of make-believe, makes it so important to me.”
Making these beautiful wigs and beanies is incredibly impactful to the community they serve. Often the volunteers for The Magic Yarn Project receive messages of thanks from parents accompanied with photos of the children wearing the princess wig or beanie with beaming smiles, which is enough to help carry on the work. Amy said, “Hearing how a beanie or wig helps a nervous child go bravely into treatment because their character is brave just melts my heart.”
When asked if there was anything else that Amy would like to share about The Magic Yarn Project she said, “I would like to share that The Magic Yarn Project is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, funded solely by donations, and is staffed 100% by volunteers. All of the items that are made and crocheted in the Denver area are currently being delivered to Rocky Mountain Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Department, Brent’s House in Aurora, and Ronald McDonald House in Aurora and are given to our young local fighters.
If you are interested in learning more, please visit The Magic Yarn Project website. The organization has ways that crocheters and non-crocheters can help by visiting the Volunteer page, donate and cut yarn “hair,” make bedazzled flowers for Moana and Rapunzel wigs, decorate envelopes that coordinate with the character beanie/wig, crochet beanies and accessories, or just want to help out the organization. You can also contact Amy at AmyDroste@themagicyarnproject.com with questions or if you would like to volunteer to help bring magic into a young child’s (and their family’s) life.”
The Magic Yarn Project can also be found on JustServe.org.
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