EVERYDAY GREATNESS Loose Ends

Jennifer Simonic, Masey Kaplan and their crew of volunteers finish craft projects people's loved ones left behind

- DIANE STARK

WHO THEY ARE Jennifer Simonic of Seattle, Washington, and Masey Kaplan of Portland, Maine, are longtime friends and avid knitters. They may live on opposite sides of the country, but they recently realized they’d had a common experience: Both had been asked by friends to finish crafting projects left behind after loved ones passed away. They discovered what a special gift it was to return the finished item to the grieving family. In September 2022, the women started Loose Ends, a nonprofit that finds volunteers to complete craft projects that loved ones were unable to finish due to death, illness or disability.