College Knitters Provide Soap Bags for the Unhoused

By Cailin Acosta

SAN DIEGO – The second Saturday in June is known as “World Knit in Public Day.” Back in 2015, I noticed that various knitting groups started posting their events for this day. As I was running errands, I stopped into Goodwill and picked up a bag that had different-sized needles and a couple of skeins of yarn.

I met up with the group at Sheldon’s Self-Service Café in La Mesa and sat with the group from the Yarn Shop on La Mesa Blvd. I introduced myself and expressed my interest in participating, but I was wondering if someone could teach me how to knit. I know I can watch YouTube tutorials, but there is something more meaningful when you are taught in person. One of the ladies showed me how to “cast on,” and from there, my knitting journey had started.

As I was looking at events happening at the San Diego Public Libraries, I came across an Instagram post from the College-Rolando library about an event happening on two Saturday afternoons to knit soap sacks. All materials were included, and they taught those who didn’t know how to knit how to knit.

I attended the first session on Saturday, June 7, and met the team “Stitches Threads of Care” and picked out the yarn and needles they supplied for the class. The team consists of President/Founder, Marco Crosswhite, Vice President, Claire Westberg, Director of Outreach, Penelope Dalton, and Director of Community Service, Claire Spilkin, who is a member of the Jewish community.

Crosswhite and Westberg showed me the pattern and the finished product. I started working on the project as we talked, and I asked more about their non-profit.

Crosswhite is in his second year at San Diego State University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Neuroscience. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah. His involvement in community service started in the fourth grade when his entire class was taught how to knit hats, which were then donated to the marginalized communities of Salt Lake City. From then on, community service stuck with him. As an aspiring physician, he was motivated to start STITCHES to continue to serve in any way he could.

Westberg is a third-year Public Health major at San Diego State University. She hopes to become a physician one day and has a particular interest in women’s healthcare. Westberg is originally from Sacramento and learned to knit in seventh grade. She volunteered with the unhoused throughout high school and wants to continue to make an impact.

Dalton is a third-year Biochemistry major on the pre-medicine track at SDSU. She is also from Salt Lake City and has always been heavily involved in her community. She has volunteered with Street Corner Care for the past several months, which provides healthcare to the unhoused population in San Diego.

I tried unsuccessfully to interview Spilkin. From her Instagram page and according to her roommate, Westberg, Spilkin is very involved in the Jewish community on campus. She is active and busy with Chabad House and with Hillel.

So, what made these young college students start “Stitches Threads of Care?”  Crosswhite mentioned that as of 2024, it has been reported that there are more than 10,000 unhoused individuals in San Diego County alone. One thing he learned from his community service experience is how misunderstood the unhoused community is. Giving these individuals something that is homemade means a lot to them, and this is what sets “Stitches” apart from other nonprofit organizations.

Westberg mentioned that Sacramento also had a large homeless population, and she witnessed the link between someone’s environment and their well-being. Through simple acts of kindness, she wanted to help establish an organization to show that they are valued and deserve to feel special. In her studies to become a future healthcare provider, she practices empathy for all, no matter their background or socioeconomic status.

Dalton mentioned one of the individuals she sees often wears the same hand-knit hat she made him, and how he has the biggest smile of gratitude. Handmade gifts mean so much to those in the community and show them that “Stitches” cares for them.

Crosswhite said they are not a religious-based organization, but they did receive yarn donations and knitted soap sacks from a Catholic organization. I discussed with them the Jewish mitzvah of providing tikkun olam and how they truly are repairing the world, one stitch at a time.

At the College-Rolando library branch, they have a table past the metal detectors for donations of yarn, knitting needles, or to drop off knitted items.

When I brought my completed knitted soap sacks to the Saturday, July 14 “World Knit in Public Day” program, Crosswhite said they would check the donation box a few times a month for knitted items. The library staff informs them when there are donations to pick up.

Crosswhite said to spread the word about their organization, and if there are groups that would like to knit for them, they would love all the donations they can get.

For those who know how to knit and want to help from home or get a group together to knit, I will include the pattern.

Start with a medium (4) skein of yarn of cotton, cotton-blend, or wool-blend. Acrylic is accepted but typically does not last very long. Cast-on 20-25 loops on knitting needles (8) or (10), depending on the yarn and the tightness. Keep knitting until it measures 12 inches with a ruler and cast off. Fold in half and with an embroidery needle and yarn, stitch the sides closed, leaving the top open for the soap to go in.

Click here to reach out to “Stitches Threads of Care” about donations and how you can help.

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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.