Local Woman Makes Hats for all 400 North Marion Primary and Preschool Students

Check out a video of Second-Grade Teacher Shannon DeBolt's class saying Thank you!

By Jillian Daley

Folks call Hubbard resident Jan Jurchen both Grandma J and “tough cookie,” and she’s earned both titles.

After her husband died in his 30s, Jurchen stepped up as a single mom and raised their four children, all of whom attended North Marion schools. Despite the ache in her hands, she also regularly crafts hats for children and families in need. Jurchen, who is 82, recently crocheted 400 hats, enough for every student in the North Marion Primary School and Preschool. On Dec. 9, she distributed her crocheted beauties to the children in the Primary School cafeteria, with teachers ushering in one or two classes at a time. In a way, the giveaway was a relief for her.

“I’m so glad to get these out of my house and on kids’ heads!” she said.

The beauty of these Grandma J originals is their variety, available in pastels, neon shades, and dark hues. Several even incorporated an opening at the top for a ponytail to pop out. The hats were a hit with local students.

“I can’t choose,” second-grader April Campos Gomez said, wonderingly, as her eyes surveyed the many tables. “They’re all so cute.”

Second-grader Malachai Boell also struggled to decide on the right knit cap, but he eventually came to a final selection.

“It feels really comfortable,” Malachai said. “I’m very thankful. I’m very happy.”

Some of the hats also seemed happy, coming in bright hues, Many were also adorned with a cheery button shaped like a mermaid, flower, or animal, such as a fish.

Kindergartner Erina Kuzmin chose a beanie with a fish button that she named Nemo.

“I think this is perfect,” Erina said softly. “I think I like it.”

Her grandmother, North Marion custodian Natalia Kuzmin, looked on adoringly at Erina, and said that the event matters for all children, many of whom may not have a hat, especially not a handmade one.

“I love it,” Kuzmin said. “It’s a huge help to the kids.”

The children seemed to understand the significance of Jurchen’s large-scale, handmade donation. Second-grader Ben Martinez asked if he could thank Jurchen with a hug, and when she consented, it let loose a flood of children, all rushing to embrace her and thank her. 

"Not everyone gets the chance to get these hats,” Ben said.

In fact, Second-Grader Teacher Shannon DeBolt noted that her own experience backs up the unique nature of Jurchen’s present to the school.

“This is my first year in the district,” DeBolt said of her time at North Marion. “I’ve taught for 26 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s amazing.”

Jurchen’s regular donations of handmade hats came about gradually, but her work is now in the hands of hundreds of people, with some of her hats even appearing in other countries. Jurchen said that she’s been crocheting for 65 years, and she began noticing hatless children in the chilly season a few years ago and knew that she could help keep them warm. At first, she produced a couple hats here and there. Soon, she was donating her talents on a bigger scale. In 2010, she made 300 hats for the Union Gospel Mission in Portland.

This year, she offered 10 hats to help a church group that will bring them on a mission to the Pacific Islands, where these head-warmers will be welcome on rainy days.

“I’m excited about that because I’m going to be worldwide,” Jurchen said and laughed. “My hats are going to be worldwide. International love, that’s all it is.”

She’s also woven yarn into head toppers for North Marion before, but never for the entire school. She had extra time during the pandemic to prepare for a massive giveaway. It was hard work, but helping children is important to Jurchen.

“I do it out of love for the kids, and when they see me, they know who I am,” Jurchen said. “I’m Grandma J. I’m Grandma J to a lot of kids. I have more grandchildren than anyone in the world!”

However, she does have some pain in her hands, so Jurchen hinted that this might be her last year handing hats out to North Marion students. Her neighbor, Susie Rice, just can’t imagine Jurchen stopping the project because of her high energy and compassionate nature. 

“She is one tough cookie with a strong but soft, caring heart,” said Rice, also a local parent, who volunteered to help Jurchen hand out her creations at North Marion last week. “She is an inspiration to us as parents, to the kids, and also to seniors in the community to keep going.”

Rice said that Jurchen regularly scaled a ladder to work on her home until about a year ago, and isn’t likely to ask anyone for help. She mostly helps others. Right after sharing her handmade masterpieces with North Marion students, she left to bake cupcakes for her neighborhood. She said that she gives back to the community because she delights in helping children, but she especially enjoys transforming yarn into warm hats to protect little ones against the winter shivers.

“It makes me feel good; it makes me happy,” Jurchen noted. “It makes me smile when I see kids wearing them.”

To share story ideas on the North Marion School District, please email Communications Specialist Jillian Daley at jillian.daley@nmarion.k12.or.us.