Bedford Arts & Crafts Society ~ Reaching out to the Community

~ Submitted by the Bedford Arts and Crafts Society

Bedford Arts and Crafts Society (BACS) crafters gather weekly to try their hand at a variety of projects and activities. This year, as the pandemic has ground on, BACS members produced knitted hats and scarves, as well as handcrafted greeting cards, for the Bedford Food Bank and many town individuals and groups.

From December to March, more than 200 colorful head-warming items—including hats of all sizes and scarves—and 250 sunny cards were distributed through the Emergency Response Food Bank. The crafters also contributed practical handmade tissue packets. In all, 12 members fashioned the handknits using yarn donated by members and others in the community, and they benefited as well from funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Marita Hartshorn, BACS craft chair, was the group’s go-to for the project, and Dawn Warrington in Bedford and Chris Schwaber in Lexington organized curbside pick-up. Susan Schwartz coordinated delivery of the handknits and the cards to the Food Bank and generally acted as BACS’s liaison, working with Carla Olson of Healthy Bedford.

Ms. Olson was quick to express gratitude on behalf of the town. “Thank you to BACS and your generous team of artists and knitters for all the beautiful hats, scarves, tissue packets, and greeting cards given throughout the winter season. They were very well received and lifted our neighbors’ spirits.”

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In the case of the BACS crafters who have made cards their specialty, 20 volunteers designed, created, and delivered 143 holiday cards and 135 Valentine’s Day cards to the Food Bank, all with personal handwritten greetings.

The Bedford Arts and Crafts Society was founded in 1956 and now has 88 members from Bedford and neighboring towns, including Lexington, Concord, Billerica, Arlington, Waltham, and as far away as Plymouth and even Florida. You can find more information about BACS’s programs and membership at bacsma.org.

If you find you could use help with food supplies, please reach out to [email protected] or 781-275-7727 or visit https://www.bedfordma.gov/BedfordFoodBank

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