Topeka grandmother, 94, shows her love one crocheted item at a time

Keishera Lately, Topeka Capital-Journal
·2 min read
Jacqualin Geasland, 94, holds a crocheted scarf. Geasland's family estimated she has produced more than 500 scarfs, hats and blankets this year that have been donated to the community.
Jacqualin Geasland, 94, holds a crocheted scarf. Geasland's family estimated she has produced more than 500 scarfs, hats and blankets this year that have been donated to the community.

A grandmother's love is often thought of as a "love like no other" and it's what's keeping this family in the holiday spirit.

Crystal Daggett participates in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse project. Daggett collects shoeboxes filled with gifts including toys, school supplies, hygiene items and more that are delivered to children all around the globe.

Daggett's grandmother Jacqualin Geasland assisted Daggett in filling the shoeboxes with her handmade, crocheted winter pieces.

Giving back to others didn't stop there for the 94-year-old Geasland, however.

Jacqualin Geasland crocheted more than 500 pieces this year

A "Giving Tree" displays some of Jacqualin Geasland's knitted hats and scarfs at The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis campus.
A "Giving Tree" displays some of Jacqualin Geasland's knitted hats and scarfs at The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis campus.

Children across Topeka will be warmed by Geasland's crocheted hats, scarves and throw blankets. The pieces were used to decorate "Holiday Giving Trees" at The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis.

Terri Benson, marketing and planning strategist at the St. Francis Campus, said employees set up five giving trees around the hospital, requesting that they be decorated with donated hats, scarves and mittens. The items will be donated to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Topeka.

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Daggett said Geasland had plenty of pieces left over after filling the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. The Giving Trees were the perfect opportunity to continue giving back in the community.

Geasland crocheted about 500 pieces this year.

Geasland's crocheted pieces can also be found on many statues around the capital city. Daggett said her grandmother has spent recent years putting them on "statues and the Ichabod's for anybody to have."

"Grandma is always supporting kids, and so I know this is something grandma would like," Daggett said. "I'm grandma's little elf!"

Crocheting stems from a history of providing for her six children

Jacqualin Geasland, middle, is joined by her daughter, Robin Cox, right, and granddaughter Crystal Daggett at her home recently while sporting some of the goods she's crocheted this year. Many of her items are going to children across Topeka.
Jacqualin Geasland, middle, is joined by her daughter, Robin Cox, right, and granddaughter Crystal Daggett at her home recently while sporting some of the goods she's crocheted this year. Many of her items are going to children across Topeka.

Geasland was a stay-at-home mother, daughter Robin Cox said, and was an active member in the community.

Geasland has dementia now. She told The Topeka Capital-Journal her favorite hobbies were always sewing and crocheting. When family members asked if she still enjoyed gardening, Geasland said, "Oh well, that's easy!"

Cox said her mother made all of her and her siblings' clothes when they were growing up. Geasland is the mother of six and grandmother of 10 — and has an abundance of great-grandchildren.

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Daggett and Cox gather Geasland's yarn for her crocheting. She's almost always ready for more the following week.

"We can find a box of hats and scarves that she made sitting in the back room, but it doesn't do anybody any good," Cox said. "But, when we're actually getting it out there for other people, it makes me feel good, that what she's doing to keep busy is helping other people."

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka grandmother offers a helping hand to youths in the community