Lillian Carson possesses bright blue eyes, an engaging smile and the energy of a much younger woman. As she states in her news release, “This stay at home is hard on us seniors …

“Before going stir-crazy, I had to find something creative to do to survive.” For Carson, creativity and public service go hand-in-hand.

In 2006, she founded a chemotherapy cap ministry. Carson’s knitting/crocheting group was associated with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Emmaus; however, thanks to an article in the East Penn Press and word of mouth, the idea spread. Many individual volunteers as well as other church affiliated groups took up the activity. The hats were donated to area infusion centers for distribution to patients. Between 2006 and 2016, Carson delivered more than 3,000 caps.

To remedy the tedium of sheltering in place, Carson has again picked up her crochet hook. She now spends a portion of her time making twiddle cuffs. These appropriately named slip-on sleeves are constructed of brightly colored yarns and decorated with whimsical buttons and doodads. The cuff slips over the forearm and provides the wearer with small items to twist, push and pull. As a personal touch, Carson likes to include a small heart button on each cuff she crochets. Aside from being just plain fun, twiddle cuffs serve a serious purpose. They provide comfort and release to autistic children and adults allowing them to more easily focus on and absorb information. Carson will be donating her work to schools and nursing facilities.

Although certainly inhibitive, the restrictions imposed to curb the current pandemic have also brought out the finer side of many folks.

For Carson, sheltering in place has become a path to creativity and community service. She encourages others to join her.