Milpitas High School students teach crochet skills to seniors

For over a year, the Milpitas High School Crochet Club has been running the Crochet and Crafts Program at the Barbara Lee Senior Center.

The initiative started in the summer of 2023 as a community outreach event organized by the Crochet Club in partnership with Design for Impact, another Milpitas High School club. During the event, students distributed over a hundred bags of crochet items and cards, and hosted a workshop where attendees could learn the basics of crochet.

Following the event’s success, the Crochet Club, led by President and Founder Thi Le, decided to establish the Crochet and Crafts Program as a permanent offering at the senior center. “We realized how crochet could truly build community in Milpitas,” said Le. Since then, the program has been conducting regular sessions.

The program aims to introduce crochet to a wider audience, bridge generational gaps, and cultivate a community of growth, collaboration, and open-mindedness in Milpitas. Its mission is to “connect and empower communities through crochet,” according to Le.

Workshops are held every two weeks from 9 AM to 12 PM, alternating between crochet and craft activities. During crochet sessions, participants learn to make items such as beanies, scarves, and tote bags. Craft sessions cover a variety of activities including jewelry making, scrapbooking, and painting. Volunteers lead each session, following a structured lesson plan.

To date, over thirty people have participated in the program. It operates on a drop-in basis, welcoming anyone interested to join. All materials are provided by the Senior Center, thanks to the support of Senior Center Program Coordinator Ann Marie Asis and Recreation Services Supervisor John Macon.

Looking ahead, the program plans to have volunteers and participants create crochet items like scarves and beanies for donation during the winter. Participants will also be encouraged to work on their own projects as they gain more experience. Additionally, the program aims to recruit more high school students as volunteers and establish a broader volunteer system. While current volunteers are primarily members of the MHS Crochet Club, slots are open to anyone interested in teaching others.