How the nonprofit Care Crafts Project has used art to uplift hospital patients
Staff Writer
“Small moments of happiness can go a long way for patients who have had to live in a hospital for so long,” said Anika Sahani (11), a co-president of Care Crafts Project Fremont, an organization that has resolved to hearten struggling patients through arts and crafts. In doing so, it has given a new meaning to these crafts as a source of socialization and connection.
“Care Crafts is a nonprofit that organizes crafting events which are donated to children’s hospitals,” explained Preethi Kannan (9), a graphic designer for the Fremont chapter of the organization. “Our crafts are designed to be doable for many people which makes our events inclusive; we started off with the basic things like bracelet-making kits and making get well soon cards.” These types of simple, yet enjoyable crafts attract a wide range of age-groups at these events, from toddlers to senior citizens.
“Our events are drop-in at the Newark Library, so on Saturdays, anyone at the library is free to come by and make some crafts,” said Sahani. “Instructions are written on a whiteboard to explain the process of making the crafts, and we have examples laid out around the space. Our officers are also always walking around and answering questions about the craft-making process.” With methodical step-by-step instructions, event-organizers ensure that even those who feel they are not particularly artistic can still enjoy making the crafts.
Event attendees get a chance to be creative and de-stress while working on their crafts. “With many events we have quiet work time. I think people enjoy that space where they just make their crafts and they reflect on their own thoughts and relax after a tiring week,” said Navaneethakrishnan (Photo Credit: Anushree Navaneethakrishan (11)).
Sahani and her co-president, Anushree Navaneethakrishnan (11) founded the Fremont chapter in the summer of 2024 after coming across the broader initiative. “We thought that it would be a really good opportunity to show our interest in medicine in a way that actually helps patients right now; we wanted to make a [tangible] impact on hospital patients,” said Sahani.
Navaneethakrishnan explained that people gravitate to the events as a method of relaxation which simultaneously feels productive. “While they can be relaxing, techniques like watching TV, going out, or eating can sometimes make a person feel guilty. But people have told me that it feels like they get a sense of purpose when they make crafts at our events.”
The impact of these crafts has stretched further than simply on those attending the events, helping to uplift the hospital patients who receive them. “The crafts we give to the patients are not huge [gifts],” said Kannan. “But we know what they are going through is hard, so the point of our crafts is to give patients a little sense of hope that there are people out there who want them to get better. It allows interaction and helps them feel more hopeful about their situation.”
Elaborating on the connection such crafts create, Navaneethakrishnan said, “Our crafts indirectly emulate socialization. Sometimes our crafts include little letters to patients written by people at events or kids from the hospital themselves. While these are not very personal, they are like small-talk conversations, which we exchange to different hospitals to stimulate conversations.”
Explaining the ultimate goal for the crafts, Sahani said, “We just hope that they are able to bring a smile to their faces, even if it’s just for a moment.”
Care Crafts Project Fremont has hosted events where individuals could create “get well soon” cards and bracelet-making kits to be sent to Washington Hospital and St. Jude. “It’s just a way for patients to create indirect social connections,” said Navaneethakrishnan. “They know that somewhere out there, someone knows and cares about them, which functions as an indirect friendship” (Photo Credit: Anushree Navaneethakrishan (11)).
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