The Tradition Lives On: Community Volunteers Deliver Hand-Crafted Newborn Stockinette Caps to Beebe Healthcare’s Labor & Delivery Unit

Mrs. Eleanor Cordrey, a beloved nurse at Beebe Healthcare for 49 years, upon her retirement continued to give back by making the stockinette caps for all the newborn “Beebe Babies.” Carrying on the tradition of Mrs. Cordrey, on April 26 a group from the local Senators’ Community jumped to the task and delivered a bundle of over 165 stockinette newborn caps to the Women’s Health Pavilion at Beebe Healthcare to welcome and warm our newest Sussex County residents.

“When the Senators’ Community Service Committee under the coordination of Sue Crawford began to explore opportunities to give back to our greater Lewes community, Beebe Healthcare was at the forefront of our thinking,” commented Dahni Barkley.

To see how they could best serve, they reached out to Bridget Buckaloo, executive director of Women’s and Children Services, who expressed a need for someone to fill the vacancy of making of stockinette caps – these caps are given to each new baby born at the hospital, approximately 900 each year. Thirteen residents gathered in March, with each volunteer adding her personal touch to the caps. As word spread about the “Beanie Baby” community project, interest grew and the group of volunteers continues to expand.

The group plans to continue this service as the need remains, by crafting and delivering future batches of newborn caps. Beebe Healthcare is thankful for their time and service.

Photo Caption: From left to right: Kathy Herman, Dahni Barkley, Terry Yates, Jane Charters, Kathy Ruth, Dianne Stevens, Irene Robertson and Sue Crawford.

Not Pictured Volunteers, include: Mariam Douglas, Joan Fiera, Amelia Grazioso, Regina Linder, Marianne Lucia, Judi Sherman, Ruth Thomson and Chris Vansant.

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. It offers services throughout Southern Delaware for residents and visitors, including a 210-licensed-bed hospital, a cancer treatment center, and outpatient facilities providing walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation services. For more information, please visit us online at Beebe Healthcare.