Kay Serbenick has been crocheting for decades. But it wasn’t until recently that she found a way to combine her crafting with a charitable cause. In the process, she has inspired a community to join in.

Each month, nursing students from Cal State Fullerton visit National CORE’s Heritage Pointe Apartments in Rancho Cucamonga, where Kay resides.

As part of completing their bachelor’s degree in nursing, these students volunteer to help seniors living at Heritage Pointe, but many also work at a variety of hospitals around Southern California.

When Kay learned that there was a need for warm “beanie” hats for babies in the hospital, she started crocheting hand-crafted caps to help meet the need. “I have a grandson who fought cancer and wanted to help keep babies warm while in the hospital,” she said.

Kay spent her career working in the retail and service sector, including the last 13 years of her career working in Las Vegas. She said she misses the work every day and loves being able to keep active by giving back with her crocheting.

Not only did Kay start crocheting night and day, but she invited others within the apartment community to join in. Lucy Ruiz, one of Kay’s fellow knitters, ran a daycare out of her home for many years and was excited to find a way to help children again, right within her community. “I just love kids,” she said. “Every day I pray for babies with cancer. I am so grateful to be able to help in this way.”

Kay, Lucy, and their team have now crocheted over 300 beanies that are being distributed to hospitals throughout the region for babies in need. Every beanie is unique and is made from a different combination of colors and patterns. Friends and family members have donated to provide the needed yarn, and this group of seniors turns on their creativity for each design.

The nurses serving residents at Heritage Pointe are now walking away with more than a sense of satisfaction, they are also walking away with bags full of lovingly designed caps for babies in nearby hospitals. And that’s what I call paying it forward.

Gregory Bradbard is President of the Rancho Cucamonga-based Hope Through Housing Foundation, www.HTHF.org.