Metairie woman crochets hats and scarves for the needy with yarn donated by her community | Entertainment/Life | nola.com

Linda Gonzalez spends most evenings in her Metairie living room, surrounded by bundles of yarn in every imaginable color, along with the crochet hooks and scissors needed to create outerwear for cold weather. She places her completed accessories neatly on her dining room table, and soon, everything will be shared with society’s most vulnerable through Covenant House and Ozanam Inn.

“God gave me the talent to help others,” Gonzalez said. “I love to make people happy and put a smile on their face.”

Gonzalez’s project started with a Facebook post several weeks ago by Terry Pruski Shaw asking the community to drop off any unused yarn on her porch in Bucktown; it would be turned over to Gonzalez.

In just a short time, the results were astounding.

Hats come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Shown here is a baby hat.

“The response was immediate,” said Shaw, who has been friends with Gonzalez for almost 30 years. “For days, there were bags and boxes filled with yarn left on my porch. I wish I had weighed everything, but I weighed one of the big bags and it was 8 pounds or more.

"I am only the messenger for Linda, but I do like being a part of what she is doing. She is just an angel."

“I couldn’t believe how many people have responded to Terry’s post,” Gonzalez added. “This is going to help so many people.”

Gonzalez, 72, said she has been crocheting nearly all her life, learning from her grandmother and aunt. (Her mother enjoyed knitting and sewing more.)

The first donation she and her mother made was to Ozanam Inn several years ago.

Hats and scarves will be donated in time for cooler weather.

Ozanam Inn provides basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing for those in need.

“My mother would knit while I crocheted,” Gonzalez said. “It’s impossible to know how many items we donated throughout the years. We did have a hiatus for several years while dealing with health issues.”

Gonzalez’s mother has since died.

All kinds of yarn were donated, including wool and acrylic.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of material the yarn is made of because I use it all,” said Gonzalez, who for 38 years was a special education teacher. “I don’t let any yarn go to waste, even if it is just a little bit. I find a way to use it all.”

In January, Gonzalez began crocheting again for the Ozanam Inn, and so far has completed about 80 items, mostly caps. Earlier this month, she also began projects for Covenant House, including baby hats, headbands, scarves and wristbands. She plans to make the donations as soon as the weather gets cold.

“I am working on some new accessories now, and my plan is to donate 100 items to Covenant House,” Gonzalez said.

Linda Gonzalez sits on her couch as she crochets.

Covenant House is a nonprofit that provides safe housing and care to youth ages 16-21 experiencing homelessness and survivors of human trafficking.

Among the yarn donors was Kris Akkaya, who gave a box and a couple of bags of yarn belonging to her late sister, Missie.

“When I heard what Linda was doing, my family and I were happy for her to use the yarn,” Akkaya said. “My sister would be happy the yarn going to such a wonderful use.”

Another donor was Elizabeth Campbell, who saw Shaw’s post on Facebook. She is part of a home-school cooperative called Friends of Grace whose students donated the most.

Hats were crocheted in a variety of color schemes.

“The total collected (by the organization) was 50 skeins of yarn, the equivalent to about 17,700 yards,” Campbell said. “As important as the book education we give our kids, we also want to teach them to be kind.

"Linda is using her talents to serve others. When Terry posted about what Linda would be doing with the yarn, that prompted more donations and kept the blessings going.”

Gonzalez said she has never wanted to be the center of attention. She only wants to show kindness to others.

“I have had a very active life,” Gonzalez said. “My mother always told me to help others, to put a smile on someone’s face. And I wake up happy every day knowing that I am doing just that.

“Kindness is free, so be as kind as you can to others.”