KAWA Volunteers Sew Clothes for Newborns at CHA HPMC

Posted by Divya Sathyanarayanan

It’s a little past 10 a.m. on a Tuesday and nine senior women from the Korean American Women’s Association (KAWA) sewing club have gathered at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (CHA HPMC). Dressed in blue coats and wearing kind smiles, the women are set to do what they love—sew clothes for newborn babies of low-income families born at our hospital.

For over 30 years, KAWA has positively impacted the Los Angeles area as a membership driven organization committed to serving the community by developing leadership skills and empowering women. Senior volunteers from KAWA gather together at CHA HPMC every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month to make, and then donate over 700 pieces of clothes, jackets, socks, and baby blankets to low income families in our community each year.

For some of these women, volunteering has been a part of their family for generations ad they are proud to continue a legacy of service. “It’s joyful and makes me satisfied,” says 90-year old Ok Hee Cho, who has volunteered with KAWA for over 15 years and travels over 2 hours both to and from her home in Norwalk to CHA HPMC. Choo and other volunteers bring all their own sewing materials and spend around seven hours each week sewing. The hospital offers lunch and refreshments to show just how much their worked is valued.

In celebration of National Women’s History Month, CHA HPMC recognizes and appreciates the selfless efforts of KAWA sewing club volunteers who work for the well-being and growth of our community.