Mittens? Check. Hoodie? Got it. Toe socks? You bet. Scarf? Darn, need to get that. But never fear this year—sophomore Sabina Sood’s hand-knitted scarves, available in the Student Activities Center (SAC), will keep you warm and fund holiday toys for sick children.

Since April 2005, Sood, an aspiring pediatrician, has volunteered with Lucile Packard’s Children Hospital (LPCH). In October, upon starting work in the Forever Young Zone (FYZ)—a play area for children undergoing treatment—Sood decided to buy new toys for the FYZ by knitting scarves and selling them at Gunn via her own “Toys for Toddlers” project. She felt that while the older kids at LPCH enjoyed a plethora of activities, younger ones were not as well provided for. “They’re skipping school to be there,” Sood said. “I want to give them more opportunities to have fun and learn at the same time.” She plans to purchase interactive games such as Leapster, an electronic educational tool.

While LPCH’s Volunteer Services Manager Maryellen Lozzi did not agree with Sood’s assessment of the FYZ, as LPCH offers a separate preschool program for patients five years and under, she gave Sood kudos for her efforts. “I know that the patients will be able to benefit from her hard work,” Lozzi said.

And hard work it is. After buying yarn with the money she earns as a soccer ref, Sood knits whenever she can find downtime away from schoolwork and soccer, spending about an hour on each scarf. “Whenever we go anywhere, she’s knitting in the car,” mother Sapna Sood said. “There’s yarn all over both my and my husband’s cars. I don’t see her sitting idle for even five minutes anymore.”

Sood learned to knit five years ago from her mother, when she wanted to make her newborn sister a blanket. “The one thing I enjoy most about knitting is the end result—a finished scarf,” Sood said. “Also, I love the fact that knitting is so portable and I can knit anywhere.”

Sapna Sood was pleasantly surprised to hear about her daughter’s project, as she had been involved with similar community outreach while growing up in India, knitting sweaters for shelters. “I had never mentioned to her that I’d done this,” Sapna Sood said. “Then she started telling me about her idea, and it was neat to find that connection.”

In order to sell the scarves at Gunn, Sood had to receive approval from the Student Executive Council. Having raised $120 so far, she will continue “Toys for Toddlers” through March, ultimately hoping to fundraise between $400 and $500.

“The most exciting part is just imagining the smiles on their faces,” she said.