This post was updated April 1 at 8:51 p.m.

The Giving Craft shows how a small gesture can go a long way.

The student-run organization, founded this past fall quarter, is open to all students interested in crafts – no matter the medium or level of experience, said social media manager and second-year cognitive science student Hannah Ngo. Born out of the co-presidents’ shared passion for crafts and volunteering, the club focuses on donating crafts to health care facilities in hopes of creating a more comfortable stay for patients, said co-president Lynna Si, a third-year neuroscience student.

“I think crafted items … (make) a living environment more comforting,” Si said. “It’s something that could cheer them up for the day. I think it would be nice for anyone to receive a handmade craft item as a present.”

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Co-president Nhi Doan said The Giving Craft’s origin dates back to summer 2024 when she and Si were roommates. During this time, the third-year physiological science student said she discovered that Si, like herself, enjoyed crocheting in her free time. Doan added that the idea to donate the crafts came to mind, eventually leading them to create the organization.

With previous volunteering experience at health care facilities, Si said she often noticed the loved ones of long-term patients decorating the rooms to make them more welcoming. However, those without family close by would often miss out on this experience, she said. With this in the back of her mind, Si said she felt encouraged to collaborate with Doan in the creation of the club.

“Some of the patients don’t have any family nearby or friends nearby to visit them, and they don’t have anyone to decorate the room for them,” Si said. “The hospital rooms are so bare and not friendly and welcoming, … and I thought maybe I could do the same for patients by donating some craft items that’s more humane and comforting.”

The club’s dynamic, Ngo said, mostly consists of people working on their projects individually and bringing them to meetings when ready to be donated. She also mentioned that the club has informational general meetings, but they are not mandatory. However, Doan said the club is in the process of doing more community-based meetings, such as a crocheting session with boba. Because of classes and how time-consuming the quarter system can be, Doan added that the organization plans to maintain crafting as both a remote and in-person activity so everyone has the opportunity to participate.

As for donations, Si said the items received depend on the specific crafting event. For example, their current collaboration with City of Hope is focused on flower garlands, making those the only items accepted, she said. But when working with a more general theme such as plushies with the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, Si said people have the freedom to create whatever they want. In addition, Ngo said the club is looking into expanding the charity aspect to have students work first-hand with patients when creating their projects, as many facilities prefer in-person volunteering rather than donations.

Regarding members’ experiences, Ngo said the club can be a great opportunity for people to have an external motivation to work on their hobbies while also knowing that participation is not mandatory, allowing students to be creative in an environment free of pressure. She added that she hopes the organization’s activities can show members that crafts can be more than a hobby and that their creativity has an impact on others. On a similar note, Doan said she hopes The Giving Craft can be a space where students can express themselves beyond academics, reminding themselves they are more than just students.

“It’s easy to forget that you’re good at other things besides just taking a test,” she said. “There’s other things you can do to be happy, which is what crocheting is for me. As a STEM major, I feel like I’m always taking a class I’m worried about, but crocheting is a way for me to escape that, and I really wanted to share that with other students.”

About the impact on patients, Ngo said she hopes the club’s donations can bring a sense of comfort to the often dull atmosphere found in health care facilities. Doan added that besides the heartfelt gesture of receiving something handmade, she hopes the hands-on activities with patients can be an opportunity for them to realize it’s never too late to learn a new skill. This is especially important, as hobbies can be a great tool to disconnect from difficult situations and enjoy being in the present, she said.

It is the opportunity to create – both individually or in collaboration with patients – that makes The Giving Craft unique, Doan said. In addition to this, Si said the club can be differentiated from other creative organizations at UCLA through its inclusion of a wide range of crafts. She said while many other organizations may focus on a specific medium, the club encourages students to donate and participate no matter the medium they decide to work with.

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Although still in its early stages, The Giving Craft intends to keep expanding its connections with health care facilities, hoping to be able to increase the club’s positive impact on the community, Si said. Simultaneously, Ngo said she expects that it will be able to host more creative mediums as its population increases, hopefully having enough for the organization to be divided into subgroups, developing the club’s dynamic.

“I hope (people) can join this club and be able to hone your skills for something good,” Ngo said. “Hopefully, it gives you motivation to not only create for yourself but create for others.”