Production for a Cure helping hospitalized children in Winnipeg

Volunteers spent Tuesday afternoon working to cheer up hospital children during the holiday season.

Crafts for a Cure returned to Winnipeg on Tuesday with volunteers to build craft kits that will be distributed to hospitals in Manitoba over the holidays.

“These crafts are a huge distraction,” said Pamela Bielak, founder of Crafting for a Cure. “If you give a child a craft, they won’t think about getting sick, even for five minutes.”

Volunteers took over a room at a hotel in Winnipeg and filled bags with yarn and other art supplies. The goal is to create 600 bags for the next season.

Volunteers create crafting kits as part of the Crafting for a Cure event on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Winnipeg. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)

Children aren’t the only ones who need crafts at the hospital, Bielak said.

“Our crafts can go to the NICU for parents to make and they can hang it in their child’s crib,” she said.

Bielak added that the crafts are also used in the youth mental health ward.

Volunteers will be creating crafts at the Best Western Premier Winnipeg East hotel until 8:30 p.m., and everyone is invited to participate.

Volunteers create crafting kits as part of the Crafting for a Cure event on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Winnipeg. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)