THE MAD HATTERS
(Text by Pete Porter, Photos by Margaret Porter)

"In that direction," the Cat said, waving its right paw round, "lives a Hatter: and in that direction," waving the other paw, "lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad." "But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be, said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

While our community of Torrance is certainly something of a Wonderland, the "Mad Hatters" that I found here were Mad in name only. The RSVP "Mad Hatters" meet every Monday, from 9:00 to noon, at Greenwood School to create a Wonderland of articles that bring joy to many in the South Bay.

Organized by Chris Mosher, the RSVP Mad Hatters have been in existance for about eight years. Previously located at the Lomita City Hall, they have been in their present location at Greenwood Park for the past five, The attendance varies between the nine that were there today and as many as a dozen.

Three times a year (at Easter, Halloween and Christmas) they donate what they have made to Millers Childrens Hospital in Long Beach. These items range from Hats, Afghans, Booties, Soft Toys, Hand Puppets and Activity Bags (also called Distraction Bags). These Activity Bags are filled with Coloring Books, Crayolas and various donated toys and are very welcome "diistractions" for the children who receive them.

By the end of 2005 the Mad Hatters had donated a total of 4717 items to Millars Childrens Hospital. This included 677 decorated Baseball Hats, 271 Blankets and over 500 knitted and crocheted Hats, to name just a few of the items that they make. I noticed that the knitted hats came in four sizes (as can be seen from the above photo). The smallest size is just right for new-borns and is probably something that they will keep with them, tucked away in a drawer, even as they grow older. Left over items from yard sales are donated to the Mad Hatters, rather than being sent to GoodWill. Mad Hatter Bernie (Burnette) Boock lives in a mobile home park and gets many things from the neighbors she lives with. Bea Castellano gets crayolas by using special Walgreens coupons that her grandchildren give to her each time Walgreens has a sale. Bea told me that, although she dosn't crochet or knit, she got roped in to do sewing and ironing after she wondered what these ladies were doing one time when she was bringing her grandaughter to the Greenwood Preschool. Since joining the group she has now made over 400 Distraction Bags, decorated with iron-on apliques that are cut out by other members of the group.


Karen Pecot
Kimi Kiyohara
Bonnie Stuhlmacher
Dokhy Sebastian

Anita Saldamando

Burnette Boock

Alice Wrazen

Chris Mosher

Bea Costellano
Please contact the office at (310) 320-3322 if you would like to join in this fun activity.