Project Stitches

Details of Project Stitches at Penn State

Project Stitches at Penn State is a community-driven knitting and crocheting initiative supporting Penn State Kinesiology's Street Medicine Initiative. Through handmade items like fingerless gloves, beanies, and washcloths, the project provides warmth, dignity, and comfort to individuals experiencing homelessness, delivered alongside medical care in nontraditional settings.

How It Started

The project began in Spring 2025 after students returned from a Street Medicine Initiative trip, deeply affected by the needs they witnessed. What started as a personal act of compassion quickly became a nationwide effort when yarn donations were requested. Faculty, staff, and students, many new to yarn crafts, eagerly joined in to support the work.

Meeting Real Needs

Following the students’ Fall 2025 trip, the focus shifted to items shown to be most useful in the field: fingerless gloves, washcloths, and beanies. These items best support the realities of those living unhoused.

Through Project Stitches at Penn State, small handmade items create a meaningful impact, support students, and extend care to those who need it most.