Harvest of Handiwork Celebrated at Cape Regional Health System

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – On Monday, Sept. 28, the sixth annual Harvest of Handiwork was hosted at Cape Regional Health System to celebrate the abundance of beautiful items which are crafted for our patients by hospital volunteers and community knitters. Since 2010, these talented volunteers have provided an extra-special amenity for the patients at Cape Regional Medical Center by creating more than 5,000 afghans, shawls, lap blankets and baby items. During the year, the handmade items are regularly offered to grateful patients who then bring their special gift home with them. The knitters now extend their contribution of knitted items to Cape Home Care and Hospice with the creation of our “Handmade for Hospice” program. 
Annually, a display of crafted items is the highlight of a recognition event for these special volunteers at which time the Nursing Directors have an opportunity to select from a vast array of handmade items and personally extend their appreciation to the talented, generous and caring crafters. Both the Nursing Directors and members of Administration are always delighted with the amazing quantity and quality of items.
“On behalf of our patients, staff and the entire Cape Regional Health System family, we thank the volunteers for their hard work and dedication to this program,” stated Joanne Carrocino, FACHE, President and CEO. “They touch the lives of countless patients by their spirited generosity.”
Several years ago, the Medical Center’s Volunteer Services Department implemented the very popular Patient Comfort Shawl Program, encouraging staff, volunteers and community members to knit or crochet shawls as an amenity for patients at Cape Regional Medical Center. Utilizing both personal supplies as well as donations of yarn and gift cards, the skilled crafters spend countless hours carefully creating the cozy shawls; the program has now expanded and includes lap blankets and a variety of baby items. A generous donation (from a caring staff member) assures our ability to further the personal touch by adorning each knitted item with a label as a reminder that the gift was made by their friends at Cape Regional Medical Center.
If you would like to experience the joy of giving of oneself, you can join this compassionate group by calling Julie Paolella, Director of Volunteer Services, at
(609) 463-2367 for more information.
Cape Regional Medical Center is a member of the Penn Cancer Network and an affiliate of Penn Medicine for Cancer Care, Cardiac Care and Vascular Care. Cape Regional Medical Center is accredited by and received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission. For additional information on the Medical Center and its programs, please visit www.caperegional.com or contact Susan Staeger, Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator at (609) 463-2059.