• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • Daily Newscast
          • News Stories
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
          • Current Weather
          • COVID-19 Impact
          • Local Vote 2020
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Seasonal Features
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
          • COVID-19 Impact
          • Local Vote 2020
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center
          Brooklyn Park
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live
  • COVID Info

Despite COVID-19, ‘Knitting Grandmas’ Keep Making Hats for Newborns at Maple Grove Hospital

3:22 PM | Monday, August 17, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped a group of women in Maple Grove from making caps for babies born at Maple Grove Hospital. Known as the “Knitting Grandmas,” they’ve knitted more than 45,000 hats for newborns since 2009. Recently, the group earned a Trailblazer Award for continuing their work during COVID-19.

Making the Hats

Knitted hats woven in softly colored yarn are placed in Sheila Enestvedt’s trunk every Monday. Enestvedt is among the volunteers who donate their time.

“I love doing the sports hats, those are my favorite,” said Enestvedt. 

Knitting Grandmas

Knitting Grandmas volunters

Phyllis Johnson started the Knitting Grandmas group 10 years ago when Maple Grove Hospital opened. The volunteer group started with three people. Now there’s 60 volunteers.

“It was fun because we found so many new friends and people interested in knitting,” said Johnson.

Volunteers craft the hats at home and drop them off at the Maple Grove Community Center on Mondays. 

“We have to have 100 hats a week in order to keep up with the hospitals,” explained Jerry Enders.

The hospital has about 400 babies every month. To date, the knitters have created more than 45,000 hats for newborns.

“If by chance we get behind, we have to send an email for people to make more hats, but we never had to do that,” said Enders.

Even when COVID-19 broke out, the babies kept coming and the hats did too. Volunteers had to transition their meetings outside and still maintain a safe distance.

“Once the hats get to the hospital we’ve been getting them isolated for a period of time before we bring it up to the nursery,” said Jennifer Nelson, Maple Grove Hospital’s volunteer services manager.

And despite the global pandemic, knitting has given volunteers a purpose. 

“I see a lot of babies leave. It’s always fun seeing them leave wearing one of the hats that’s from our group,” said Enestvedt. 

Pafoua Yang, reporting

Maple Grove

Related Stories

Newsmakers: Dr. Aja King Talks About “Seeing Humanity in Each Other Without Judgment”:  Dr. Aja… Read More
Crystal Chief to Brooklyn Center City Council: An Ask for Support:  During an emergency Brooklyn… Read More
Kenyan Immigrant Organization Demands Peaceful Justice:  In the wake of the tragic shooting, a local… Read More
Robbinsdale Superintendent Candidates Narrowed Down to Two:  The selection for Robbinsdale Area… Read More
Maple Grove Declares Curfew Beginning at 10 p.m. Tuesday:  Maple Grove declared a curfew starting at… Read More
Monday Night Curfew in place for Hennepin, Anoka and Ramsey Counties:  Governor Tim Walz ordered a 7… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media/NWCT
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media is a service of Northwest Community Television serving the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2021 Northwest Community Television | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in