Columbia Students Connect With Community Through Crafting

The group had previously visited the Center in March, instead of hosting a workshop for the children, teaching them to make beautiful pieces of jewelry for themselves and their friends and family members, and providing an opportunity to have fun and take a short break from their treatments.

In late April, Columbia students participated in another jewelry-making session, a pre-finals study break, in which they created jewelry as a form of stress relief before final exams. While students were able to make jewelry for themselves, they also made beautiful earrings, bracelets, and necklaces for the residents of The Dwelling Place, a local women’s shelter, which were distributed to the women on Mother’s Day. Students had last visited The Dwelling Place at the end of March to teach residents the art of fine jewelry making and were thrilled to have the opportunity to continue their outreach to the women on such a special occasion.

Crafting for a Cause will continue its outreach this coming summer. On June 1, Columbia students will return to SUNY Downstate Medical Center to make jewelry with survivors and their families at the Pediatric Cancer Survivor Celebration, and in August, will work with the children at SUNY Downstate to create their own personalized school supplies. Other summer outreach opportunities are in the works.

All GS students and alumni are encouraged to participate. For more details, please email Marilou Fonti at [email protected]. Crafting for a Cause is grateful to Lisa Smith and SUNY Downstate's Child Life team, Sister Joann Sambs and The Dwelling Place for their continued warmth and hospitality, and to our fellow Columbia students for their continued enthusiasm.