Topeka — "Throughout the whole year our members have been working on rectangles to make the blankets and hats and scarves to donate to let's Help and the VA hospital."

It's a Saturday morning just before the holidays, and members of the Topeka Crochet Guild delivering items they've been making for the past year.

"We started in January," said founder and leader Tracie Neill. "Some members do more than others just 'cause they have the time to do it. Could never tell you how many hours. Today we have 59 blankets and 150 hats and scarves and a few miscellaneous items. We donated about the same amount to the VA hospital on Veteran's Day. And then we donated here and then throughout the year we do other projects. We donated 250 finger puppets to the dream night at the zoo."

And the list goes on. Members of the guild also work on baby blankets for local hospitals-part of something called Project Linus. They also donate items to breast cancer awareness, paws in the park and other local charities. But, they admit, they get something out of it, too.

"It's very relaxing and I like to keep my hands busy and I like to make these items and give to the community," said guild member Connie Gould. "We meet the first and third Sunday of each month at the Topeka Public Library and we just started meeting on Thursday evening over at the donut shop over on 21st Street."

This is one of the group's biggest projects, these donations to Let's Help.

"In a couple of weeks, Let's Help will be having a meal and a giveaway, where the people who come here to have a little joy brought into their life will get to shop for and select items that have been donated to Let's Help," said member Sandra Harter. "And just knowing that the time I spent on creating something that I was going to give away will bring a little pleasure and warmth to someone I don't even know is exhilarating.

To learn more about the Topeka Crochet Guild, click here.