Adams donates blankets crocheted by local seniors for dialysis patients

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams on Tuesday commemorated Diabetes Awareness Day by donating more than 200 blankets, along with scores of scarves and socks, that were crocheted by dozens of local seniors for patients in need, at more than a dozen dialysis centers across Brooklyn.

Adams said more than 700,000 New Yorkers have diabetes, and almost a third of them do not know they have it.

Adams, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last year and successfully reversed the disease, made the presentation at Rogosin Institute/NFB East, a dialysis treatment center in East New York, alongside elder Brooklynites who participated in his annual Crochet for a Cause initiative.

“The garments carefully knitted by the seniors at Brooklyn Borough Hall were made with compassion and love for our fellow neighbors, particularly those suffering from diabetes and kidney disease,” Adams said. “The blankets, hats and scarves will bring warmth and comfort to those going through the long process of dialysis treatment.

“My own battle with Type 2 diabetes taught me the potential to transform the body through preventative care, and it is my mission to have as many diabetic and pre-diabetic Brooklynites as possible take steps in their own lives that may help avert the need for medication or dialysis,” he added. “We will share this message far and wide, and we will care for all those struggling along with way.”

Adams said dialysis centers that will receive the crocheted items include Bay Ridge Sunset Park Dialysis Center in Sunset Park; The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Fort Greene; DaVita South Brooklyn Nephrology Center in Marine Park; DCI Narrows Kidney Center in Dyker Heights, DaVita Dyker Heights Dialysis Center in Bensonhurst; Fresenius Kidney Care Hemodialysis Center in Cobble Hill; Fresenius Kidney Care Nephro Care West in Gowanus; IHS Coney Island Dialysis Center in Brighton Beach; Interfaith Medical Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant; and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in East Flatbush.

Others are: Midwood Chayim Auchim Dialysis in Midwood; NYC Health + Hospitals / Coney Island in Sheepshead Bay; Renal Research Institute Brookdale Physicians Dialysis Associates in Brownsville; Rogosin Institute / NFB East in East New York; Rogosin Institute/NFB South in Gravesend; Rogosin Institute Brooklyn Dialysis Center in Park Slope; SUNY Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush; and DaVita Utica Avenue Dialysis Center in East Flatbush.

Adams said Crochet for a Cause is in its third year at Brooklyn Borough Hall, bringing together seniors from across Brooklyn on Wednesdays throughout the year to knit various kinds of fabrics into blankets, hats, scarves and other clothing items for a disease focus. This year’s focus is on patients undergoing dialysis treatment.

In 2015 and 2016, Adams said seniors crocheted garments for autistic children and organ donors, respectively. Instruction was led by Xiomara Morgan, a Brooklyn-based designer. This year’s effort was sponsored by Healthfirst and Summit Home Health.

“Summit Home Health Care would like to thank Borough President Adams for allowing us to participate in Crochet for a Cause, as we know how important combating diabetes is to ensuring the health of the elderly,” said Michael Kleinman, director of marketing and intake at Summit Home Health Care. “We look forward to participating in future events where we can contribute to the city and improve the quality of life for everyone.”