From The Smallest Inspiration Comes

‘Warm’ Gifts Made By Hand

By Kendra Bobowick

Sophie Wolfman weighed just 2 pounds, 14 ounces when she was born five years ago. Despite her dainty size, she has inspired contributions of hundreds of hand-knit baby hats annually.

Now 5 years old, Sophie is the main reason her grandmother, Louise Giusti of New York, regularly visits The Homesteads at Newtown where she leads a group called The Neo-Knitters. The collection of women produces miniature hats for neonatal, premature babies. Homesteads Services Coordinator Kerry Cardinal said the group, which is made up of volunteers and Homesteads residents, provides enough hats to deliver to Danbury Hospital’s neonatal unit quarterly.

Ms Giusti has many memories of the three months her granddaughter spent at the hospital in White Plains, N.Y., after her birth.

During that time her daughter, Gina Wolfman of Newtown, had asked her a question that is still being answered today.

“She asked what we could do to help,” Ms Giusti said. Times spent holding her granddaughter and rocking back and forth at the hospital came to mind.

“In the preemie unit where I would go I noticed the raggy hats, so when my daughter asked that question I said, ‘I know, we’ll knit.’”

From this inspiration came the many preemie baby hats.

A similar group works together with The Neo-Knitters, and is working on blankets for donation. Together, members include Louise Giusti; volunteer Juliana Zaleta, who is also a weekend manager at the facility and has completed as many as 29 hats in one month; Bertha Briedenbach, the late Dorothy Staib, Janet McGill (who has moved), Alga Nesic (who has returned to Yugoslavia); Barbara Bloom, a volunteer from town; Jean Bowden, Marge Villanova, and Cele Borofsky­.

The group gathers to knit on Mondays.

Mr Cardinal enjoys seeing the group gather to knit. The activity is nostalgic for him.

“In old times they would sit around the table and talk,” he said.

He also encourages participation in the group.

“They can socialize and do something that makes them feel useful, and know it is helping someone.”

Each year, Ms Giusti estimates, more than 400 hats arrive at Danbury Hospital.In coming years, Ms Giusti hopes to knit “something for cancer patients or the homeless,” she said.

Mr Cardinal welcomes members of the public to volunteer and participate with The Neo-Knitters.

To learn more about The Neo-Knitters, contacting Mr Cardinal at The Homesteads, 426-8118. The knitters’ groups also serve as a time for Homesteads residents to meet and enjoy the company and activities, said Ms Bloom.