In the fall of 2019, I was a first-year student at York University overwhelmed by the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I longed for a sense of familiarity, and after being heavily involved in extracurriculars in high school, I knew that I wanted to find a way to get involved during my undergrad years. I stumbled across a booth at the club fair with a poster that read “Crafting for a Cure: Bring Smiles to Children in Hospitals,” and, little did I know, walking up to that booth would change my life forever.
As human beings, we have so many different experiences and interactions that shape our lives in meaningful ways, but we often fail to notice them. Joining Crafting for a Cure (CFC) led me to believe in living a life greater than myself. It made me realize how privileged I am and how the things that I often take for granted are things that do not come easily for many.
During the holiday season of that year, I had the opportunity to go on one of CFC’s hospital visits to Humber River Hospital. I crafted with a child at his bedside, and while our interaction may have only lasted a few minutes, I left the hospital that day feeling grateful and optimistic about what the future had in store. It has almost been two years since our interaction, but to this day, I remember his name, the dinosaur print of his pyjamas, and of course, the craft we made together. That experience was so powerful that I went on to get heavily involved with the charity and am currently serving as Co-Director of Chapter Programming and York University’s Chapter Co-President.
Over the past year, I’ve been fortunate enough to have played a role in many of the charity’s initiatives. With new challenges brought on by the pandemic, charities have had to determine if they will continue operating. Crafting for a Cure confronted adversity head-on by finding new and innovative ways to engage with community members. We hosted our annual fundraiser in a virtual format (“A Night of Quar-Entertainment”), organized a silent auction in collaboration with Les Dames d’Escoffier (“Uncorked”), and took on passionate high school co-op students. We also provided students with the opportunity to chat with professionals in various industries in our “Crafting Conversations” segment and managed to continue to send out craft kits, which are now in higher demand than ever before.
There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out our worst instincts. We have all witnessed the hate that has fuelled words and actions that have detrimental impacts on our societies. However, the pandemic has also highlighted those that embody resilience and have used this global crisis as an opportunity to better themselves and their communities.
Crafting for a Cure is a site of change. It’s a place where passionate people come together to work towards a common goal: spreading joy. No matter where you’re from or where you want to go, there’s a place for everyone in this charity, which is one of the many reasons why I’m so grateful to be a part of it. When we get busy in the hustle and bustle of our own lives, we often forget about how the simplest things — like smiling — can have such a profound impact on ourselves and those around us. Being a part of this charity has truly taught me how powerful even just one smile can be. I found a second family at Crafting for a Cure, and I genuinely feel like I‘ve received much more than I’ve given.To learn about how you can get involved with the charity or York’s chapter, be sure to reach out via Instagram DM! Visit Crafting for a Cure for information on our latest initiatives.