PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — As she nears the end of her career in public safety, Officer Rebecca Key-Gaskins is trying something new: teaching school children a pastime that was passed down from her mother.
Key-Gaskins remembers her mom teaching her how to crochet as a kid. However, it wasn’t until later in life that she picked it up as a therapeutic hobby at the end of a busy work day.
Last Halloween, Key-Gaskins invited one of her colorfully-crocheted dolls to tag along in the passenger seat of her patrol vehicle.
After seeing the reaction from kids, she was inspired to teach children how to crochet themselves.
Temple University Police had already established the ‘Cops in the Classroom’ program, inviting officers to read aloud to children in North Philadelphia schools.
Thus, Key-Gaskins paid a visit to St. Malachy Catholic School to teach them the very basics of crochet.
Although she plans to retire this year, Key-Gaskins hopes to continue teaching students long into the future.
Watch the video above and visit the Temple University Police website to learn more.
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