‘It’s a win, win, win’ Nonprofit teams with businesses to create wigs for children with cancer Katie V. Jones Baltimore Sun Delivered by pirates to So Original Yarn Studio in Columbia, Maryland a large box filled with skeins of multicolored yarn was indeed a treasure chest for recipient Brittany Harrison. As the Baltimore area chapter leader of the Magic Yarn Project, a nonprofit that provides free character wigs to children dealing with cancer and other medical hair loss, Harrison will create mermaid wigs and the pirate Jack Sparrow’s famous locks with the help of a generous donation by HoCo Pirate Adventures, a pirate-themed scavenger group, for the month of September — national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. “The whole situation is really three separate, really beautiful stories,” said Harrison, of Sykesville. “I love the idea of what we can all accomplish together, the ripple effects just from one thing.” It begins with Harrison, who first started crocheting character hats for her children as a hobby in 2016. When she discovered the Magic Yarn Project on Facebook, she started shipping her creations to its headquarters in Alaska until the nonprofit started different chapters around the country in 2019. Now, she delivers her creations to local charities, including Casey Cares Foundation, which is based in Baltimore, and the Ronald McDonald House Baltimore. She has also delivered wigs to Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic Region and Sinai Hospital, as well as individual requests. “There is so much need locally,” Harrison said. “This is a huge yarn donation. A hundred skeins of yarn is 75 wigs. That’s huge.” Chris Fuchs, head pirate of HoCo Pirate Adventures, donated $700 to Harrison’s Magic Yarn Project chapter after she approached him over the summer with the idea. “This is the best thing we’ve done yet,” Fuchs said. “It’s a win, win, win.”
SCAVENGER HUNTS
Since July 2020, Fuchs has been organizing monthly pirate-themed scavenger hunts for youth throughout Howard County. The hunts are typically available 24/7 for about 10 days, with treasure maps available to download for a $5 dona-
tion. A portion of the fee is used to purchase “treasure” for the hunts and another part is used to give back to the community, Fuchs said. Past donations have been to organizations such as Howard County Special Olympics and the Howard County Police Department. “I always try to go local,” said Fuchs, who requested that Harrison find a local yarn shop to make her purchase. That request wasn’t easy, Harrison said, as many of the smaller yarn stores were unable to order the mass-produced yarn Harrison requested for the wigs. Enter Lana Ford, who reopened her store, So Original Yarn Studio, in July after relocating it from Olney to Columbia. “She asked … and I thought, ‘How can I not?’ ” Ford said. “It is really an amazing program. It speaks to everybody’s heart.” Around Ford’s shop, she has displayed Harrison’s creations. Rapunzel’s long blond hair braided with flowers, Jack Sparrow’s dark braids with beads and a red bandanna, and Elsa’s signature long white braid are all easily recognizable hairstyles of the beloved Disney characters. “They are so beautiful,” Ford said. “They are quite elaborate these wigs. Very labor-intensive.” Before the coronavirus pandemic, Harrison would host events with volunteers — everyone from Scouts and youth groups, to mom groups and friends — working together to complete a wig. “Instead of paint night, you go out with friends and do the same sort of thing but work on a wig and do something good,” Harrison said. “I would bring the beanies and they would attach the yarn and add the ribbons, rhinestones, whatever that character needed.” Ford is hosting a Magic Yarn Project event at her shop at noon Sept. 26. She also ordered extra yarn for the wigs to keep in her shop for anyone interested in the project. “You don’t need any knitting or crocheting skills at all,” Harrison said. “People can cut yarn. You can help.” Harrison is thankful for the support Fuchs and Ford have provided and is excited to bring more attention to the Magic Yarn Project. “When you see what all these kids are going through, it’s heartbreaking,” Harrison said. “This is all for the kids.” FALL 2021 | fb/eburgmoms 9
