A Story About Kindness Stitched With Love
Everyone can make a big difference, no matter how old we are or what life throws our way. Even when things are tough, being kind and compassionate can give us a reason to keep going. That is the amazing story of a kind old man from Michigan. His hands might not be as strong as they used to be, but his heart is full of love. He found a way to help others with one stitch at a time.
The knitting grandpa with a golden heart
Morrie Boogaart lives at Cambridge Manor assisted living facility in Grandville, Michigan. He is 91 years old and spends most of his time sitting up in bed. This grandpa’s hands are wrinkled and a little stiff, yet he skillfully knits with yarn around a wooden spindle. His eyesight is not what it used to be, but his movements are practiced and confident. And he loves knitting.
His Bible is next to his bed. It gives him comfort. There is also a picture of his wife, Donna Mae, who passed away 16 years ago. The most interesting thing in this room is a pile of brown boxes. They are stacked on top of each other, and each one is overflowing with more yarn.
The birth of a knitting hero
I just like to do it, Morrie says softly as he knits. Although he spends most of his time bedridden, his hands keep moving. Knitting has become his way of staying connected to the world. Morrie says that he has always wanted to help people and would not stop just because he is older. We all need something that gives our lives meaning.
Morrie started knitting 15 years ago when he picked up knitting needles. He began his knitting journey as a hobby, but today, it has turned into something amazing. He is now working on a one-man mission to keep homeless people warm and show them some people care about them. His secret weapon is hand-knitted hats. He makes each one with love and care.
The hat man’s growing mission
At first, people at the nursing home just noticed Morrie’s unique hat knitting hobby. But then, something amazing happened. The word spread about Morrie’s kind mission, and people started donating yarn to him. It was not just a few donations either. Yarn poured in from churches across the state. Morrie even got yarn from countries like China and Australia. His warmth and generosity touched everyone who heard Morrie’s story.
Morrie’s daughter, Karen Lauters, was surprised when her father’s room grew with a mountain of yarn. She said people were even talking about it on Twitter in China. Even the governor of Michigan wrote Morrie a letter to thank him for his amazing work. It felt like the whole world joined Morrie in knitting hats to help others.
More than just a hobby
Knitting was not just something to do for Morrie. It motivated him to get up each day. When he carefully knits each hat, he imagines it warming the head of someone who needs it most. Someone facing poverty, illness, or just having bad luck now receives a reminder that someone cares about them. Morrie said that some days are harder than others. Even though he was battling skin cancer, he could not stop doing this. He added that too many homeless people out there need a little kindness.
But knitting did more than give Morrie warmth. He had lost his son, Russell, to cancer just a few months after diagnosis. Now, he is getting older, and knitting gave him the peace he could not have in any other way. The rhythmic movements soothed his sadness. Each stitch was like a prayer for those suffering, alone and homeless, facing life’s harsh realities.
Morrie’s daughter’s special visits
Karen visits her father pretty often at his assisted living facility. It is usually just a regular visit, but other times, she comes by for a special reason. She collects her father’s finished hats and takes them to homeless shelters Morrie picks out. When she comes to pick up the hats, they are in the boxes, all neatly labeled with the names of different shelters, like “Mel Trotter” or “Salvation Army.” The hat man makes sure each hat goes to the right place. Karen loads up her car with 8 to 10 boxes and drives them to the shelters herself.
Morrie’s heartwarming hats
People often donate homemade mittens and scarves, but Morrie’s handmade hats are truly special. Karen said that Morrie shows everyone that no matter your age or condition, you can always make a difference in your own way. She is so proud of her father’s dedication to helping others. Everyone could learn from his example, she added. His kindness has touched so many people and given him purpose during tough times.
As long as he is healthy, Morrie plans to keep knitting three hats a day from his bed at the Grandville assisted living facility. His love for knitting hats gives him a reason to keep going, bringing warmth and comfort to those in need. Morrie’s story shows us that even the end of one’s life can become the beginning for someone else.
Watch a news video of the hat man hero here.
H/T : truthinsideofyou.org
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