Build Hope and Strengthen Community at "The Nest"

One of the most meaningful projects at The NEST is the Grandmothers' Crochet Club, which meets every Friday afternoon. Through this project, elder women in our community gather for companionship, emotional support, learning, and gossip! Manglaralto Giving helps to provide the yarn and materials, along with dedicated volunteer teachers, creating a space where the women feel valued, capable and connected. 

The impact of the program reaches far beyond The Nest. The women lovingly crochet baby blankets that are donated to the local hospital for newborns whose families lack basic clothing and supplies needed to bring their babies home. The ladies have also made and donated baby clothing directly to families in the community who are navigating severe economic hardship. 

Most recently, the Grandmothers' Crochet Club completed a very special project for our annual Food Bank Christmas distribution. Knowing that every child in our program receives a toy, the ladies handcrafted 16 baby dolls, which were gifted to the 3-year olds in our food bank program. Each doll was made slowly and intentionally, using colors for skin and hair which match our beautiful Ecuadorian children. 

This project is a powerful reminder that when people are supported with dignity, they do far more than heal-they give love away. These women came to The Nest seeking connection and purpose, and through the generosity of GlobalGiving donors and many others, they found both. This is what lasting community change looks like: help becomes compassion, and compassion quietly transforms lives.