Today we’d like to introduce you to Aditi Bang.
Hi Aditi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Aditi Bang, and I am a junior at South Forsyth High School and the President of GA Madhatter Knits Foundation. In August, I was scrolling through Instagram and an ad from Madhatter Knits Foundation (@madhatterknitsfoundation) about creating chapters caught my attention; immediately, I started researching more about this organization and its vision. I found the purpose, which is to support premature babies by knitting beanies so that they can maintain their body temperature to be powerful and emotional! Even though I had barely any experience with arts/crafts, I knew that I wanted to be involved in this so I contacted the director, Tiffany Chang, to learn more about this organization and how I could start a chapter in Georgia.
After contacting her, she gave me steps on how to start a chapter, and then I created my leadership team. Afterward, Tiffany taught us how to knit through Zoom with patience and love, we started spreading the word about GA Madhatter Knits Foundation to get people involved! GA Madhatter Knits Foundation is a strong organization because of the support of Tiffany Chang from Madhatter Knits Foundation and my dedicated leadership team, who are the backbones of this organization: Sonika Tatipalli- Secretary, Rasagna Vuppala- Marketing Manager, and Meghana Madduri- Outreach Manager. Premature babies go through a tough beginning, and I realized that this knit hat is more than just stabilizing their body temperature; it is also a symbol of optimism and hope for their loved ones. Gradually, by using social media and contacting friends and family, we reached over 40 volunteers in these six months. Currently, we have also donated to five NICUs in Georgia and knit over 400 beanies!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At first, it was a challenge for GA Madhatter Knits Foundation to expand and try to get many volunteers, but we have worked very hard to grow our organization by sharing what we do on social media and creating connections with our community. I believe that leading GA Madhatter Knits Foundation has taught me the true meaning of hard work and connections because, without them, we would have not been able to reach the heights we want. Also, as high schoolers, we all have busy schedules and academic priorities which we have to balance; however, we try to split up our tasks so we do not feel pressured and have fun while doing our work!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
GA Madhatter Knits Foundation is a student-led organization that supplies knit beanies to NICUs so that premature babies and their loved ones feel appreciated and supported during their tough times. It is difficult for premature babies to regulate their body temperatures because their bodies are not developed enough to keep them warm. So, it is vital to keep premature babies warm so that they can protect and grow their energy levels. Especially in newborns, large amounts of heat escape from the head, which can create trouble for the babies. A hat can greatly reduce heat loss and support the baby in keeping their head and body warm. Each hat is made with love and positive blessings to create an optimistic, caring environment for the baby and their family.
At the start of GA Madhatter Knits Foundation, we started off as a team of four. We have been able to spread our love to all these precious, strong babies and also inspire many more of our fellow peers to do the same. One of our core goals is to engage our younger community so that we can create an expanding effect on our society, and now, we have more than 40 volunteers, consisting of fifth graders to twelfth graders. I believe what makes GA Madhatter Knits Foundation unique from others is our willingness and growth mindset that allows us to conquer any problem. Our goal is to unite our community so we can all serve premature babies; we reward each and every volunteer for their hard work! Additionally, GA Madhatter Knits Foundation is like a big family because our leadership team connects with each volunteer personally to learn more about them and their interests. Our emphasis on connection lets us break boundaries and create everlasting relationships with our society.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If anyone is interested in joining GA Madhatter Knits Foundation, please contact us at @gamadhatterknits on Instagram. We would be beyond excited for you to join this loving family!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.madhatterknits.org/
- Instagram: @gamadhatterknits
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