The weather doesn't often turn cold here in my part of the world, but when the mercury drops below 60 degrees, my family and I bundle up against the chill and start looking for warm things to do.  As I spent a quiet afternoon last weekend teaching my two young daughters how to knit, I reflected that we really were blessed in these uncertain times and began looking around to see if there were ways to put those precious commodities - the ability to knit and the time to do it - to work for others who are not as lucky.  Wouldn't you know it, there are a ton of charities that will accept hand-made goods, be they knit, crocheted, quilted, or sewn.

First of all, I want to mention that, while charities are fabulous things, so are your neighbors. Do you have retiree neighbors, or someone who has just been laid off living down the street? What about a neighbor who's been diagnosed with an illness? Have you even been laid off yourself? Why not put your hands to use while you're waiting for callbacks on your applications and strengthen your relationship with your neighbors? It's quite a lift to receive an item that someone made with their own two hands, and learning to knit is actually pretty easy - I had my 9 year old making pot holders in just a couple of hours. Check out some websites and search around on YouTube and I bet you can get the hang of it.

Moving beyond your own neighborhood, here is a short (and not nearly complete) list of charities that accept hand-made goods:

• Warm Up America "provide[s] warmth and comfort to people who have lost their homes, fled abusive relations, or are being cared for in hospices, shelters, hospitals, and nursing home." (knit/crochet blankets, clothing, and accessories)
• Head Huggers gives hats to those who have "undergone hair loss due to chemotherapy, brain surgery, burn wounds, etc." (knit/crochet caps)
• Helmet Liners for overseas troops. (knit masks)
• Project Linus provides handmade blankets to "children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need." (quilts, comforters, afghans, fleece blankets, or anything hand-made)
• "The Mother Bear Project is dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of a hand-knit or crocheted bear." (knit bear)
• Binky Patrol "make[s] blankets and give them away to children in need of comfort." (sewn, quilted, crocheted, or knit blankets)
• Knit Your Bit will donate your scarf to a veteran in a veteran's center somewhere in the U.S. (knit scarf)
• Christmas at Sea from the Seamen's Church Institute "brings hospitality and love to deep-sea and river mariners by distributing gifts containing handmade scarves, caps, vests, helmets or socks, as well as other useful items." (knit scarf, cap, vest, socks)

Still looking for more ideas? Try this search engine:
Search for charity - Lion Brand Yarn lets you search by organization, interest, and area.

These sites are just a drop in the bucket.  Call around to your local homeless shelters, churches, foster home networks, abuse hotlines, police outreach programs, schools, community centers, animal shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and any other place you can think of.  Find out who's not warm this season, or who could use some cheering up.  Put that old saying about being better to give than to receive to the test!

Posted by Dee | tagged: charity, craft