Lutz Senior Center Volunteers Knit Attire for County's Tiniest Residents

In 2022, almost 11% of babies in Florida were born prematurely, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A baby is considered premature if they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. (A normal pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks.)

Premature babies, or "preemies," face many health challenges due to their organs and systems not being fully developed. This includes difficulty regulating their body temperature because of low body fat. For this reason, these tiny babies spend their first days staying toasty warm in neonatal intensive care unit (or NICU) incubators.

Preemies in the NICU often need their heads covered to prevent body heat from escaping, making it crucial to cover them with hats to maintain a survivable body temperature. However, when the average size of a preemie's head is about the size of an orange, getting the right fit is not easy.

That's where volunteers at the Lutz Senior Center come in.

Staying busy and giving back

Brenda Callanan, 82 years young, has been knitting since the age of 12. She picked up the skill from her mom and has decades of experience creating sweaters, afghans, and everything in between.

These days, she works on a much smaller scale, knitting mini booties, blankets, and beanies for premature babies. Callanan knits at home and at the Lutz Senior Center with her friends. Though she began less than a year ago, she estimates that she's already crafted over 1,000 items for newborns.

Callanan is not the only one staying busy knitting. About 20 other volunteers at the senior center also knit articles for local hospitals, as well as others across Florida and Alabama. Combined, the volunteers create thousands of hand-knit articles for newborn babies every year.

Beanies 4 Babies

These volunteers support the Hillsborough County-based nonprofit Beanies 4 Babies. Beanies 4 Babies' mission is to provide warm and cozy beanies to newborns in need. Their goal is to ensure that every baby has access to a comfortable and safe environment, starting with a warm head.

Beanies 4 Babies assists children born prematurely and those born on time, but preemies hold a special place in the founders' hearts. The nonprofit was established by Ron and Gloria Clark in 2019. Gloria herself was a micro preemie, weighing only 2 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. Two of the couple's grandsons were also born prematurely.

In the short five years that the organization has existed, it has grown substantially. With the assistance of volunteers at the Lutz Senior Center and a handful of knitters in Vermont, Beanies 4 Babies makes several deliveries each year to 16 hospitals across Florida and Alabama. Local recipient hospitals include St. Joseph's Women's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital North, Tampa General Hospital, and AdventHealth Tampa on Fletcher Avenue.

The organization does more than just provide super-soft handmade hats and clothes for children. Beanies 4 Babies also supports a creative and social outlet for seniors. By providing knitting supplies and encouragement to local volunteers, the nonprofit brings seniors together for a shared cause.

Theresa Browning, another active Beanies 4 Babies volunteer at the Lutz Senior Center, said that participating has made her feel healthier, both spiritually and physically. In reference to her heartfelt contribution to the health of struggling newborns, she summed up what many volunteers feel about knitting and giving back to the community.

"It makes you feel good," Browning said.

Lutz Senior Center

The Lutz Senior Center offers a variety of resources to the area's seniors, including dining, recreational activities, adult day care, and transportation assistance. The center does not require membership fees from Hillsborough County adults aged 50 and older. Meal services are available for those 60 and older who are registered participants.

The center is at 112 First Ave., NW, Lutz, FL 33549. Call (813) 264-3804 for more information or visit Lutz Senior Center.