There's no cap on giving back for thirteen-year lung cancer survivor Kathy DeJoseph. It was her first day getting chemotherapy when a woman approached Kathy and gifted her a knitted cap in appreciation for her kindness during her husband's cancer treatment. That simple act of gratitude inspired Kathy—and after completing treatment for her own cancer diagnosis, she decided to pay it forward by knitting caps for patients also undergoing chemotherapy and cancer treatments.
This passion project became a purpose project for Kathy as she soon found herself recruiting others who knit from across the nation. Knitters have joined from Pennsylvania to Michigan and Alabama to right here in Georgia to help Kathy's Happy Caps thrive.
Fostering meaningful connections within the Wellstar community is part of the charge for the group of volunteers, whose workshop is located at a Wellstar facility in Cobb County. The volunteers work multiple days a week to hand-knit and package caps donated to cancer patients at metro Atlanta oncology facilities, starting with the Wellstar Health System Cancer Centers.
Together, the group has donated more than 44,000 handmade caps and has no plans to slow down. So, we sat down with Kathy to learn what fuels her passion for knitting.
What makes Happy Caps unique?
"So, they are each handmade with love by someone who cares and wants to make a difference for those facing cancer."
How did Happy Caps evolve over the past twelve years? Did you ever think you would be here with over 44,000 knit caps donated?
“Never! The first few years after I was sick, I volunteered to meet with newly diagnosed cancer patients so they could talk to a survivor.
At the five-year mark, my family suggested that I find another way to help cancer patients. I remembered how I felt when a stranger made me a hat when I was sick, and I decided to try my hand at knitting.
In just a couple of months, hats started showing up non-stop. Within a year, my house was full of hats, and we rented storage space where our volunteers would sort and process them. A year later, there were a couple of hundred volunteers, and after almost six years, we needed more space, and Wellstar met that need.
Sadly, there is no shortage of cancer patients, and so we continue to get new requests for Happy Caps from cancer centers. Now that I am getting older, and so are our volunteers, our volunteer base is getting smaller.”
Who are the Happy Caps volunteers, and why are they so special?
“Just in metro Atlanta, tens of thousands are diagnosed with cancer each year. Most of our volunteers or someone they care about have been affected by cancer. Many are retirement age, but dozens are younger.
Some already knew how to knit or crochet, and others we taught or learned with online videos. They have even formed groups and meet at libraries or senior centers.”
Kathy, what do you need from the community to help Happy Caps to keep thriving?
“I need help reaching potential and current volunteers to meet the high demand. We receive donations that keep us in yarn to provide to volunteers, Wellstar generously provides us workspace, and no one is paid.”
Kathy and her volunteers are looking to grow their knitting network and asking their new friends across the country to pick up their needles and yarn and work to keep their mission thriving.
If you are interested in knitting Happy Caps or joining the team during their weekly knitting dates, reach out to Kathy at [email protected].
Left photo: Wellstar President and CEO Candice L. Saunders joins Happy Caps Founder Kathy DeJoseph. Right photo: Some of the more than 44,000 hats knitted by Happy Caps volunteers.
