For years now, Bedford Arts and Crafts Society (BACS) crafters have gathered weekly to try their hand at a wide variety of projects and activities. During the pandemic, their sessions have increasingly focused on community-helping-community objectives. These include providing knitted goods through the Bedford Food Bank and handcrafted greeting cards for many town individuals and groups.
BACS crafters knitted, crocheted, and loomed more than 350 hats of all sizes, along with many scarves, headbands, and mittens, and even a doll’s hat. Most were sent to the Bedford Emergency Response Food Bank. Hats also kept heads warm at the Bedford VA and Davis School.
Twenty-five dedicated BACS members worked enthusiastically on the project from December to March—all of them using yarn donated by members and people from the community at large. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Jane Franklin, BACS craft chair, organized curbside pick-up for easy distribution of yarn and looms and collection of the finished hats.
The effort was coordinated by BACS member Susan Schwartz and Healthy Communities Coordinator Carla Olson. Hats went to guests at the Drive-thru Food Bank as well as those at home. Olson says, “We gave out many, many hats to babies, kids, and adults over the winter months and they were very much appreciated by all. It was a wonderful partnership that benefitted many.” She continues, “People really loved the hats–it was fun to watch folks pick out just the right one for themselves or family members. Such a great variety of colors and styles!”
Another group of BACS crafters brought cheer to people at the Food Bank and the VA with handmade greetings. These members have made cards their specialty by creating dozens of imaginative designs over the years. There were 76 cards sent with Food Bank packages, and 14 to residents at the VA on Valentine’s Day.
Bedford Arts and Crafts Society has long extended a helping hand to the Bedford community in numerous ways. BACS members have redoubled their efforts during the pandemic in a mission to touch and comfort as many people as possible.
The club, founded in 1956, now has 87 members from Bedford and neighboring towns, including Lexington, Concord, Billerica, Arlington, Waltham, and others. You can find more information about BACS programs and membership at bacsma.org.
if you find you could use help with food supplies, please reach out to [email protected] or 781-275-7727 or visit https://www.bedfordma.gov/BedfordFoodBank
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