Friday, July 22, 2005

 

knitting for charity

Another cool tattooed knitter posted a question about what charities are looking for our knitted goodies, and how to get more involved in knitting for needy people. Luckily, there are a lot of very generous crafty people out there who have set up various organizations and clubs that you can donate your crafty items to help someone else out. If you want to get involved, here are some of the stitchin' betties favourite charities:

Afghans for Afghans
a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan.

Dulaan Project
The Dulaan Project is a cooperative effort of Flagstaff International Relief Effort (FIRE), Mossy Cottage Knits, and the Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) Buddhist community of Sedona. The project seeks to inspire the generous spirit of the knitting community to help meet the urgent needs of Mongolia's impoverished people.

Mongolia's winter is extreme; the capital city, Ulanbaatar, is the coldest capital in the world. It rarely gets above freezing on winter days, and can plunge to -40ºF at night. To survive, many of the homeless live in the heating ducts below the nations cities. Warm, well-made clothing can allow a child to go to school or an adult to go to work; restore a sense of dignity; and, in some cases, literally save a life.

Critter Knitters
The Critter Knitters Coalition was created in response to the dire need for warm, comfortable blankets by abandoned animals in New York animal shelters. These blankets help frightened cats and dogs feel calm, and improve the quality of life for shelter animals while they await their forever homes.(note from the betties: don't forget your own town's animal shelter-- act local! quite a few betties are knitting for our nearby humane society)

Warm Up America
WUA! afghans are distributed to individuals and families in need through community service organizations as well as through chapters of national organizations such as the American Red Cross. Sponsors of WUA! in communities around the country are encouraged to donate completed afghans within their own community in the true spirit of "neighbor helping neighbor." The Foundation also assembles and stockpiles afghans at its North Carolina office. A list of afghan requests is maintained and as afghans become available they are shipped to the next name on the list. Agencies to which the Foundation has donated afghans include:

Battered women's shelters
Nursing homes
Teenage pregnancy homes
Hospitals and clinics
Daycare centers
Hospice care facilities
Churches
AIDS facilities
Homeless shelters


your knitting makes a difference!

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