Volunteer Hrs: Can I count hours crocheting blankets for hospice patients?

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CareerNumTwo

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I volunteer for a hospice. I do everything from visit with patients who are still fully alert and generally ok, sit with individuals who are actively "transitioning" and provide comfort to them and their families, and I also present certificates of appreciation in a private ceremony to veterans that come on hospice.

Something else the hospice does is presents veterans with a handmade red white and blue crocheted blanket at the same time I present the certificates. Recently they have run out of the patriotic blankets. So, over christmas break I took it upon myself to learn how to crochet and I made a blanket. The hospice volunteer coordinator loved it and requested I make more. The first one took me 30 hours. I'd love to keep making them, in addition to everything else I do, but it takes a long time and I can't put the hours on the hospice log since the log is only for patient contact.

As far as applying to dental schools, do you think I can use the hours I spend making these blankets to add to my volunteering hours? The volunteer coordinator would vouch for my hours if it came to that...

thanks!

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Alrighty then, thanks! :) For some reason, someone told me that my volunteer hours had to be interacting with people. I just assumed that would make the blanket thing a grey area...
 
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I would say yes! Definitely a volunteer/EC activity. Might even put crocheting under the manual dexterity portion.

Btw, I think that's pretty awesome that you taught yourself how to crochet and use it for a great cause.
 
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I would say yes! Definitely a volunteer/EC activity. Might even put crocheting under the manual dexterity portion. Btw, I think that's pretty awesome that you taught yourself how to crochet and use it for a great cause.

I didn't know there was a manual dexterity portion! (and thanks!) :)
 
I'm doing loads of crochet blankets for donation as well, so it better count! haha :nod:
 
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I'm doing loads of crochet blankets for donation as well, so it better count! haha :nod:

That's awesome that I'm not the only one! Random question since you probably have more experience that I do - how long does it take you to make each one? My first was 100% single crochet and that's probably why it took so long. The one I recently started is half double crochet and it seems to be moving along faster but it's still going to take me around 20 hours... I don't do any patterns or anything yet - makes it a lot easier to just pick up wherever I left off when I have to study or go to class or whatever.
 
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That's awesome that I'm not the only one! Random question since you probably have more experience that I do - how long does it take you to make each one? My first was 100% single crochet and that's probably why it took so long. The only I recently started is half double crochet and it seems to be moving along faster but it's still going to take me around 20 hours... I don't do any patterns or anything yet - makes it a lot easier to just pick up wherever I left off when I have to study or go to class or whatever.

Wow! Kudos for doing a single crochet blanket! I bet you were SO ready to be done with that one lol. I do mostly lap blankets (35"x45") with a 'basic' acrylic yarn, since it's washable, & tend to stick to double crochet. I would guess each one usually takes about 5 hours start to finish. I've toyed around with 'wave' and 'shell' (<--that one takes forever), but straight up dbl crochet with stripes is my go-to. Also, if you use a bulkier yarn, it will go by quicker. Those do tend to be more expensive though.
 
Wow! Kudos for doing a single crochet blanket! I bet you were SO ready to be done with that one lol. I do mostly lap blankets (35"x45") with a 'basic' acrylic yarn, since it's washable, & tend to stick to double crochet. I would guess each one usually takes about 5 hours start to finish. I've toyed around with 'wave' and 'shell' (<--that one takes forever), but straight up dbl crochet with stripes is my go-to. Also, if you use a bulkier yarn, it will go by quicker. Those do tend to be more expensive though.

I was SOOOO ready!!! Five hours per blanket would be amazing... double crocheting it is.
 
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Very cool! I think it's a great volunteer experience and a good way to develop manual dexterity.
 
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