Yarn-Yarn Sisters crochet for a cause Published June 3, 2010 By Capt. Caroline Wellman 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- A few months ago, three women assigned to the 445th Maintenance Group discovered they all crocheted. A fourth woman, who knew nothing of the craft, wanted to learn. Somewhat spontaneously, the four of them decided to join forces to produce handmade items for local non-profit organizations. And so the Yarn-Yarn Sisterhood was born. Since December 2009, Tech. Sgt. Cassandra Bartlett, assistant to the 445th Maintenance Group commander; Staff Sgt. Chris Gatza, 445th Maintenance Group training manager; Tech. Sgt. Caroline Pagan, knowledge operations manager in the 445th Maintenance Squadron; and Tech. Sgt. Lisa Quinn, 445th Maintenance Group training manager, have been meeting on a semi-regular, monthly basis to compare progress and artfulness of crochet projects. They all admit there's only so much a person can make for herself to use, so they decided early on to donate their projects to others. Since then, they've been busy making scarves, hats, blankets and shawls for various causes, including the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "We picked the VA (hospital)," Sergeant Bartlett, who is new to crocheting and learning how to make new knots by watching YouTube tutorials, said, "because when we first started talking about doing this, the winter collection the wing does for the VA was going on. We thought it'd be good to make scarves and other items for them." Each Airman is also involved in efforts to benefit non-profit organizations of their choice. Sergeants Gatza and Quinn have donated items for a charity fundraiser in Berea, Ky., that benefits the family member's of hospitalized children. A scarf by Sergeant Gatza raised $48 and a blanket she made raised $60, Sergeant Quinn said. Sergeant Pagan has donated items to a school in downtown Dayton, while Sergeant Gatza has donated items through a local charity to low income families in the Fairborn School District. Both school districts distribute the hats and scarves to children who lack appropriate winter attire. The group is discussing expanding their donation efforts to include Operation Stork, which is run by the base's Airman and family readiness flight. The program provides handmade baby blankets, rattles and bibs created by volunteers to all babies born in the base hospital and babies born to 445th Airmen, said Senior Master Sgt. Jane Johnson, chief of education and training in the 445th Mission Support Flight, who admits to having a yarn fetish. She has been participating in Operation Stork on-and-off for years, she said. The Yarn-Yarn Sisterhood welcomes anyone interested in joining. They also accept donations of yarn if you're not a crocheter or knitter yourself but would like to contribute. "(Doing this) is reaching out to a lot of people," Sergeant Pagan said. "People like (receiving) homemade items."