FAIRBORN — One stitch at a time, the Happy Hookers of the Fairborn Senior Center give back to the community.

The group of knitters and crocheters refers to their group as the Happy Hookers.

From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Wednesday, participants gather, knit or crochet items and enjoy the company of the group, which typically includes about 10-12 individuals who are free to drop-in and leave as they please. They hand-make baby and chemotherapy hats for Soin Medical Center, quilts, and bereavement blankets for the Kettering Medical Center NICU and warm items for local homeless shelters, among others. Items are taken and donated monthly.

The Happy Hookers started with three participants about five years ago and has since grown. They accept yarn donations.

Participants explained that while they’ve “run out of family members to give things to,” it still feels rewarding to give back the community. Just before the Fairborn High School class of 2017 took its trip to New York City during the spring, they asked the Happy Hookers to create hats so that they could donate them to homeless shelters in the Big Apple.

Additional group members include Cheryl Maggio, Iona Murray, Phyllis Barrows, Sherryll Pike, Joy Bazill, Sondra Leggett, Elaine Dreher, Hilda Bachman and Kathy Smith, among other participants.

Whitney Vickers | Greene County News The Fairborn Senior Center hosts a weekly knitting and crocheting group, The Happy Hookers, who donate their hand-made creations to Soin Medical Center, local homeless shelters and the Kettering Health Network NICU.

https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/07/web1_2-9.jpgWhitney Vickers | Greene County News The Fairborn Senior Center hosts a weekly knitting and crocheting group, The Happy Hookers, who donate their hand-made creations to Soin Medical Center, local homeless shelters and the Kettering Health Network NICU.

Whitney Vickers | Greene County News The Fairborn Senior Center hosts a weekly knitting and crocheting group, The Happy Hookers, who donate their hand-made creations to Soin Medical Center, local homeless shelters and the Kettering Health Network NICU.

https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/07/web1_3-6.jpgWhitney Vickers | Greene County News The Fairborn Senior Center hosts a weekly knitting and crocheting group, The Happy Hookers, who donate their hand-made creations to Soin Medical Center, local homeless shelters and the Kettering Health Network NICU.

Crocheters Sherryll Pike, Phyllis Barrows and Joy Bazill enjoying each other’s company as they participate in the weekly group.

https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/07/web1_4-5.jpgCrocheters Sherryll Pike, Phyllis Barrows and Joy Bazill enjoying each other’s company as they participate in the weekly group.

Hilda Bachmann displays a baby quilt she created that will be donated. In addition to participating in the Happy Hookers group, Bachmann also belongs to the Fairborn Senior Center quilting group.

https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/07/web1_5-4.jpgHilda Bachmann displays a baby quilt she created that will be donated. In addition to participating in the Happy Hookers group, Bachmann also belongs to the Fairborn Senior Center quilting group.

Participants Sondra Leggett, Elaine Dreher, Hilda Bachmann and Kathy Smith creating knitted and crocheted items that they will late donate.

https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/07/web1_6-1.jpgParticipants Sondra Leggett, Elaine Dreher, Hilda Bachmann and Kathy Smith creating knitted and crocheted items that they will late donate.