On any given Thursday afternoon, in a quiet room at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, laughter and the soft clicking of knitting needles fill the air. A circle of women, some with silver hair and others still finding their footing in retirement, come together. Their hands are rarely still, moving methodically through skeins of donated yarn to create something more than hats, scarves, or blankets. They are weaving purpose and community into every stitch.
It all began in 2009 when Dotti Moyer looked around her life and realized many women like her—mothers whose children were grown, retirees searching for meaningful ways to fill their days—needed more. They needed a place to belong, a reason to gather, and a way to give back. With just five women and a shared love of crafting, The Women’s Gathering was born.
Dotti wasn’t just creating a group; she was building a bridge between those who had something to give and those who desperately needed it. Broomfield may not show its struggles outwardly, but they exist. Beneath the surface of a seemingly prosperous community are families struggling to make ends meet, seniors needing warmth and care, and children who face winters without the basics.
The Women’s Gathering quickly became more than a knitting club. Their creations found homes with local organizations like FISH, a food bank where hats are available for the taking, and My Choice Pregnancy Center, where newborns receive lovingly crafted blankets. They made adult aprons for seniors and chemo caps for cancer patients. For those living out of their cars, The Refuge offers car blankets made from fleece. Everywhere there was a need, The Women’s Gathering rose to meet it.
By 2024, the group had grown to over 50 women, some attending regularly and others crafting at home and dropping off their donations. Together, they contributed over 4,000 items that year alone, spreading warmth not only across Broomfield but and far beyond.
Early on, the group’s reach extended to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, one of the largest and poorest reservations in the U.S. Winters there are brutal, and poverty is widespread, with nearly half the population living below the poverty line. Dotti and her group began sending boxes of hats, mittens, shawls, and blankets to two communities on the reservation—Kyle and Wanblee. Twice a year, these handmade gifts, along with Christmas bags filled with essentials like lotion and denture cream for elders, make their way to the reservation.
But the deliveries are about more than just items. Over the years, Dotti and other members of The Women’s Gathering have made the journey to Pine Ridge, building relationships with the people they serve. On one such trip this past fall, member Diane Tappy and her sister drove their father’s SUV, packed to the brim with handmade goods and over-the-counter medical supplies.
As the white vehicle pulled up to a warehouse in Wanblee, a teenage boy and girl approached, their faces guarded. Diane and her sister greeted them warmly, but it wasn’t until the car doors opened and the contents were revealed—bags upon bags of lovingly made hats, scarves, and supplies—that their skepticism melted into joy. “Thank you!” the boy exclaimed as he carried a box of medical supplies inside. Soon, Diane and her sister were being given a tour of the modest space where items are stored for residents to “shop.” Everything was free, and while the shelves weren’t overflowing, each new delivery made a tangible difference.
“For over 13 years, I have always been able to call Dotti from The Women’s Gathering to support the many programs we have on the reservation,” says Rose Fraser, Director of the Oyata Teca Project in Kyle. “Whether it is knitted slipper socks for the elderly, school-colored scarves for the high school, or gardening tools for families, she finds the resources to get it to us.”
Dotti’s vision has continued to evolve. Recognizing the importance of sustainable support, she founded Tools For Growth, a program that provides seeds, irrigation equipment, and tools to help 90 families grow vegetables on 1.5 acres of land. “My belief is to support people with resources that they can utilize to care for themselves,” she explains.
The work of The Women’s Gathering doesn’t end with their yarn and needles. They’ve made wool hats for veterans in PTSD programs and continue to create items for homeless shelters and other vulnerable populations. Every bit of yarn and fleece they use is donated by community members, and every stitch carries a message of love and hope.
This small but mighty group of women reminds us all that giving isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about showing up, week after week, and creating something beautiful with your hands and your heart. In the process, they’ve not only stitched together warmth for those in need but woven a stronger, more compassionate community for us all.
If you’d like to learn more about The Women’s Gathering, join their efforts, or donate supplies, you can reach Linda Kennedy at lkenn1410@comcast.net. Every contribution helps keep this remarkable thread of kindness going strong.
"I have always been able to call Dotti from The Women’s Gathering to support the many programs we have on the reservation."