From one person to hundreds… From one Care Cap™ to thousands…
The story of Care Cap Connections™ is the story of Mary Philips’ desire to help her sister, diagnosed with terminal cancer, bald from harsh but life-extending chemotherapy.

Mary could sew expertly; Linda could not. Frustrated by scratchy wigs, unattractive turbans plus the scarcity and expense of nice kerchiefs, Linda was further depressed. Baldness left her feeling “…less than a woman”; her search for comfortable and pretty head coverings drew blanks.

Mary sewed samples. Linda liked and appreciated the garments—so much that she began to give them away to others in chemo with her. The need began to snowball. Demand far outstripped supply.

Friends volunteered to help Mary with the project. Others heard and joined the experience.

Today, more than 1,200 women, men and young people come together under Mary’s leadership to fabricate and deliver free of charge, “Care Caps™”, a health and human services support project that reaches thousands undergoing treatments in major cancer centers.

From its earliest days, Mary realized she needed to supply not only her individual skill but to take on the tasks necessary to lead others. Soon, key people caught her vision and stepped forward with financial assistance. Mary, then, was able to obtain sewing machines from Janome America Incorporated, a cargo trailer purchased by private donors, and miles of fabrics and other materials. Quickly, her vision became reality as she developed patterns for caps that would fit women and children and established “The Care Cap Way” of cutting, pinning, sewing and packaging comfortable kerchiefs.

Care cap teams began to spring up in communities across her home state of Arkansas and elsewhere. In addition, the Arkansas Department of Community Correction invited her to open a branch within its system. Major cancer centers recognized the quality of the garments and dependability of Care Caps’ regular shipments. Such facilities as Mayo Clinic, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Ronald McDonald Houses and the American Cancer Society plus other well-known cancer clinics signed on to accept and distribute the kerchiefs.

To Mary and her helpers, a cap is a person; many, many people now receive their encouragement and love – people not even known by the workers.

In mid-2007, at the noted Arkansas Community Service presentation, Mary Philips accepted an Individual Award on behalf of all her volunteers. Following the presentation, in an off-the-cuff comment, the NBC television program moderator could be seen and heard on camera – his grin was infectious as he exclaimed, “That’s good stuff!”

And so it is – “good stuff” – and Mary believes it must continue.

Help is needed.
People from all walks of life, all ages, any gender, simply, volunteers who are willing to give a small portion of their time for a worthy project. Cutters, pinners, ironers, and packagers are needed to join with those who sew. People who are willing to lead teams are challenged to step forward. Organizations that can host community sewing teams are encouraged to volunteer their facilities. And others are asked for the funds necessary to keep Care Caps in operation.

Care Cap Connections™ is a division of Volunteer America – 1776, designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public charity. All gifts are tax deductible. No officer, Board member or project partner is paid and no goods are sold.

In 2007, Mary’s sister, Linda, died. Mary’s dream and vision have not. Individuals, corporations and foundations are urged to keep this unique project alive.