I'm excited to share this group today, as Tracey and I have quickly become fast friends thanks to Instagram and our mutual love of knitting and crochet! Tracey runs the popular shop Grizzlie, and while it keeps her super busy her desire to give back to her community has been growing -- I couldn't be happier! With the weather so cold everywhere right now, Tracey couldn't have picked a better time to start collecting hats, either! Read more about the group, and then check out the immediate ways you can help!
Showing posts with label charities. Show all posts
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Philly Care Caps is a group of volunteers who create handmade hats for little ones at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). We welcome all types of crafters even though most of our hats are knitted and crocheted. Volunteers can come from all over the country – you do not need to be in Philadelphia to be a volunteer. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia cares for more children with cancer than any other pediatric hospital in the country. This is why they’re always in need of soft, comfortable chemo caps for patients in the hospital and in the clinic. Patients range from newborn to mid-twenties, however, hats for toddlers and teenagers are in highest demand at the moment.HELPFUL HINTS
Please consider the following when creating your care cap:- Use a soft material that feels good on sensitive skin (just use your judgment here). .
- Care Caps should have a snug fit. Simple beanie patterns can be found on Ravelry for free. If you decide to go with a rolled brim hat, try substituting a 2×2 rib for elasticity.
- Be creative! If you come up with a pattern that works for you, great! Tell us about it and we’ll consider posting it for others to try.
- Think like a child. Toddlers and younger children will more often love bright colored hats than teenagers will.
MAILING ADDRESS
To send your hats to this group, please e-mail them at PhillyCareCaps@gmail.com -- this way they know to expect your hats when you're ready to send them!Philly Care Caps
Dec 6, 2013
Bundles of Joy is a Ravelry group that was created to bring new handmade items to the OB Ward on the Pine Ridge Reservation, where approximately 420 babies are born every year. Poverty on the Reservation is extensive and extreme, and many of these new moms don't have anything at home for these new little babies.
Jessica Mesteth
Indian Health Service
Attn.: OB Ward East
Highway 18
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
Via US Mail:
Jessica Mesteth
Indian Health Service
Attn.: OB Ward
P. O. Box 1201
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
Via UPS/FedEx:
Rose Fraser
Oyate Teca Project
Wakanyeja Okolakiciye Youth Center
1000 Youth Center Drive
Kyle, SD 57752
Via U.S. Mail:
Rose Fraser
Oyate Teca Project
P.O. Box 316
Kyle, SD 57752
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Through a number of drives every year, this amazing and incredibly active group donates not just items to the OB Ward on the Pine Ridge Reservation, but collects items for the elderly folks in residence, kids of all ages, and just about everyone else in residence.HELPFUL HINTS
The group Ravelry page has links to documents containing very detailed information depending on the drive you want to participate in. Here are just a few general suggestions: ** Steer clear of lighter colors, as they get dirty quicker. ** Use whatever fibers you like best. This means you can use acrylics, wool, blends and anything else! ** Please tag your items with fiber content. ** Owls are considered a symbol of death, so please do not send items with owls on them!!OB WARD MAILING ADDRESS
Via UPS or FedEx:Jessica Mesteth
Indian Health Service
Attn.: OB Ward East
Highway 18
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
Via US Mail:
Jessica Mesteth
Indian Health Service
Attn.: OB Ward
P. O. Box 1201
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
ITEMS FOR ELDERS MAILING ADDRESS
Please note on the outside of the box that it is for ‘elders’ This will help the OT organization sort the donations quickly.Via UPS/FedEx:
Rose Fraser
Oyate Teca Project
Wakanyeja Okolakiciye Youth Center
1000 Youth Center Drive
Kyle, SD 57752
Via U.S. Mail:
Rose Fraser
Oyate Teca Project
P.O. Box 316
Kyle, SD 57752
Bundles Of Joy
Nov 29, 2013
This Arkansas-based charity collects hats for the Arkansas Children's Hospital each fall and winter season. They will be collecting hats through March of next year, and always need hats for larger kids! Learn a bit more about them below!
Attn: Knitting for Noggins
1 Children's Way Slot 108
Little Rock, AR 72202.
** NOTE: Please fill out their DONOR FORM when sending any hats.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
From the website: Help make a difference in the lives of patients and families at Arkansas Children's Hospital! Knit or crochet hats for children of all ages through our Knitting for Noggins program. Knitting for Noggins is one of the many ways you can help make the lives our patients and families brighter. Since the beginning of our program, we have collected over 245,000 hats to keep our kids' heads warm.HELPFUL HINTS
We will collect hats September 2013 through March 2014. If you mail or bring hats to the hospital, please provide us with an accurate number of hats you are donating by completing a donor form. This helps us keep our hat count accurate. Use your creativity, but bright and colorful hats are always great! And don't forget that we can use boy colors as well as girl colors. Our greatest need is for large hats for school-age kids, teens and adults. We ask that hats be approximately the size of an average cantaloupe or larger.- Infant size - at least 16" in circumference
- Child size - at least 18" in circumference
- Teenager size - at least 21" in circumference
MAILING ADDRESS
Arkansas Children's HospitalAttn: Knitting for Noggins
1 Children's Way Slot 108
Little Rock, AR 72202.
** NOTE: Please fill out their DONOR FORM when sending any hats.
Knitting For Noggins Arkansas
Nov 22, 2013
You guys, if you ever needed proof that knitters are the best people in the world, this is it.
Victims of the tsunami that hit Japan over two years ago are still living in temporary housing in the northern fishing village of Shichigahama. To keep their spirits up and focus on something other than themselves, they formed a knitting group.
This knitting group is now sending handmade items to Syrian refugees.
These are women who don't have homes, who lost everything, and who are using yarn that was donated to them to make items for themselves and those in their village. Using that yarn to make items for others, who are experiencing their own tragedies. Mayumi Hoshi, pictured at left, is one of the knitting group members, and has been quoted as saying, "“It feels so good to be able to help other people, even if we’re in a tough situation ourselves." I mean. And now I want to grab my knitting needles, walk away from everything else I'm doing, and make even more hats than before. The need is great all over the world, and these women are such an inspiration! (link to full article)
Tsunami Victims Knit For Others
Nov 20, 2013
There is no excitement quite like that of waiting for your baby to be born when you are pregnant. All the little onesies that start piling up, the unbelievable small-ness of the little newborn diapers -- I have never felt so excited, exhausted and unprepared all at the same time as I did when I was pregnant for the first time.
I was also scared every single day until I hit 31 weeks. At 31 weeks pregnant, I knew my baby would have been inside me longer than my brother Dan was inside my mom, twenty-some years ago.
Dan was born 10 weeks early in a time when there wasn't much that could be done for babies whose lungs hadn't developed. When my mom went into premature labor, they "kept the baby inside her" as long as possible in the hopes that his lungs would develop before he delivered. Six days in the hospital hoping he would stay in, and then he was born; breech, his heels tucked behind his ears, and so tiny my dad could put Dan's head at the tips of his fingers and his knees at the base of his palm.
I was barely twelve, too young to go into the NICU itself to see my little brother, and so I spent two months sitting outside the large windows, watching him grow, reading books when things were slow, and panicking when alarms would go off and I couldn't see which bed they were coming from.
After two months, Dan was able to come home fully healthy even if he was still super tiny. All he had to do was grow, and grow he did, into a toddler I would tickle until he turned pink from giggling, into a teenager who broke his collarbone snowboarding one winter, and into an amazing young man I'm proud to be related to.
While he was in the hospital, he was clothed in a wide variety of garments, all perfectly fitted around the tubes and wires adorning him at all times. Of most interest to me were the hats - always handmade, always anonymously donated, and always ridiculously cute. I had no clue where those hats came from, and after Dan came home healthy and grew stronger each day, I put those hats into the back corners of my mind.
Until I became a knitter. One day it hit my like a tidal wave, the memory of those hats and all they represented, the hands of anonymous knitters like myself making hats for babies they didn't know, sized so tiny they would fit on mandarin oranges or kiwis.
Organizations like The Preemie Project function to help get handmade hats onto the heads of some of the littlest residents of the hospital. Based out of Iowa City, they donate hats across Iowa to the youngest members of the state, bringing much-needed warmth to the babies while bringing unmeasured amounts of hope to the parents.
31 weeks was a long time to wait to feel like my little Owen was safe inside my belly. Babies nowadays are born so much earlier than that, with much higher survival rates than 20-some years ago. But these babies still need hats, and The Preemie Project steps in to help out!
Check out their amazing work on their Facebook page, and get connected so you can send them some hats!
The Preemie Project
Nov 8, 2013
The Methodist Women's Hospital here in Omaha is in desperate need for the coming winter season!
According to an article on WOWT, their shelves are running bare of donations, and the whole month of November they are having a baby shower of sorts!
From the article: "Most needed are onesies, baby board books, receiving blankets, preemie and newborn clothing, and changing pad covers."
While I'm hopeful folks will pitch in and donate as much as they can, it's in the "newborn clothes" note that my eyes perked up - that means baby hats! If you're local to Omaha, won't you help me by making some preemie and newborn sized hats and taking them over to 192nd and Dodge directly for donation? And if you're not local but still want to help, go ahead and send them to my PO Box (see sidebar) and I'll be sure they make it there!
While I normally donate to the two hospitals closer to me in town, I also had never thought to donate here because it's in a more affluent part of town and thus made the assumption they would have plenty of donations - consider me wrong, and about to change my ways! I'll be adding them to my donations list from now on!
According to an article on WOWT, their shelves are running bare of donations, and the whole month of November they are having a baby shower of sorts!
From the article: "Most needed are onesies, baby board books, receiving blankets, preemie and newborn clothing, and changing pad covers."
While I'm hopeful folks will pitch in and donate as much as they can, it's in the "newborn clothes" note that my eyes perked up - that means baby hats! If you're local to Omaha, won't you help me by making some preemie and newborn sized hats and taking them over to 192nd and Dodge directly for donation? And if you're not local but still want to help, go ahead and send them to my PO Box (see sidebar) and I'll be sure they make it there!
While I normally donate to the two hospitals closer to me in town, I also had never thought to donate here because it's in a more affluent part of town and thus made the assumption they would have plenty of donations - consider me wrong, and about to change my ways! I'll be adding them to my donations list from now on!
Methodist Women's Hospital NICU
Nov 5, 2013
While I may find myself super busy with shop knitting this time of year, I don't want to forget my charitable roots. I fell in love with hat knitting thanks to giving hats to charity, and no matter how many hats I drop in the mail thanks to a flourishing shop I always want to make sure I have a hat to give away on my needles.
This month is breast cancer awareness month, and all over the place pink ribbons and shirts and shoes and more will start popping up. Heck, even the NFL gets in the game, with players wearing pink gloves, shoes, and carrying pink towels. It's amazing to watch, and I love how people rally around such a great cause.
This October, I will be knitting as many hats as I can, and sending them off to the Maine Cancer Center. They are in desperate need of warm hats to gift to the folks who use their treatment services, and there's a group of us on Ravelry who are banding together to help them out. Our hats are all being made in honor of a woman who recently lost both her husband AND mother-in-law to cancer, both of whom received treatment at this center.
As an added bonus, Elizabeth Ravenwood is offering her Braided Gems Hat and Wristers (ravelry link) set for sale at 1/2 off until October 12th, and his hosting a KAL in her Ravelry group - for every hat that's sent to the Maine Cancer Center this month, you will be gifted a free pattern from her pattern list OF YOUR CHOICE! She's got some amazing patterns (I'm partial to her Capiz Window Baby Blanket right now) which makes this project even more worth it than before.
We are all sending our hats along to a fellow Raveler, so if you'd like to join in, just send me an e-mail to shemakeshats@gmail.com for the address - or you can send them to my PO Box (in the sidebar) with a note that they're for the Maine Cancer Center, and I'll be sure they get to where they need to go!
Won't you join me in making hats and sending them off to the Maine Cancer Center?
October Knitting for the Maine Cancer Center
Oct 2, 2013
I spend a larger-than-average amount of time talking about knitting, specifically talking about knitting hats. Because of this, there is much that goes unsaid, some of it unintentionally, and some of it very much so.
For example, I don't spend much time talking about how messy our house usually is, and I don't share anything about my work life.
I also don't talk much about faith.
There are many bloggers today who talk faith, specifically Christian faith, in excellent ways. They move people's souls as they share their relationship with Christ freely for all who read, unapologetic in their love of their god and their churches and their Jesus. I have stayed clear of this talk for several reasons - first and foremost, it's hard to share your unapologetic love for Christ when you don't go to church yet live in a world where church attendance counts for more than people would care to admit when it comes to love of Christ.
Mostly though, I don't share my faith because I still struggle with it. I shove against grace with all my might every single day of my life, unsure of just how to live in a world where there is a god who loves everyone so much that he freely sacrificed his child for us.
EVERYONE.
for god so loved THE WORLD.
This kind of love stops me, breaks me, as I try to figure out just how it can be possible. This kind of grace frees me as I know just how not perfect I am.
I struggle because that kind of love and grace seems big enough to push back against the horror that is our world today. The death and destruction and poverty and the overwhelming lack of grace we humans have for one another. How do I, one person, exhibit that grace in a world that seems so hell-bent on blocking it out?
I knit hats because I see the children in my neighborhood walk to school in January without winter coats, and I don't have the money to buy one for each of them. I knit hats because I look in the eyes of the homeless guy sitting on the corner smelling of alcohol and urine and know that someone somewhere loved him, even if it was long ago, and my heart breaks that he is sitting there while I walk by.
I knit hats because I honestly don't know what else to do.
This is my friend Steve. The last time I saw him in person he looked nothing like this strong and fully grown man you see here - he was a 15 year old high school student about to embark on a summer-long mission trip that would change the course of his life. He was tinier than me, heart full of hope and laughter and soccer, and I had known from the moment I laid eyes on him he was special.
I knew Steve when I worked at a large church, in their extra large high school ministry. I knew Steve because he went to the same high school as many of the girls I spent large amounts of time with, praying, laughing, and loving fiercely. And I knew Steve because there is no doubt in my mind he was brought into my life to show me what grace truly is.
Steve is now a grown-up living in Copenhagen with his wife and their two small children, having been called their by our god of grace to live and work. Just typing this blows my mind.
On August 24th Steve was rushed to the hospital following an attack due to a pre-existing medical condition. After evaluations and then surgery, Steve is now looking at a months-long stay in the hospital as he tries to regain movement in his left leg and both arms/hands.
Months away from his amazing wife Dawn and their two little ones Hope and Esben. Months of not knowing, months of pain as his nerves register every touch from every single person as attack and fire.
Half a world away, I spend my time on my knees in tears, because how does this happen? In a world where so much is wrong, how does this little family that is so RIGHT experience this pain? And how am I so far away I can't grab the kids for a few hours so Dawn has some time, can't bring a meal over, can't stop by with coffee and a hug? And so it seems that all I can do is knit.
I have re-listed adult-sized hats in the She Makes Hats shop, for sale from now through the end of the year for $35 each. I will continue to list adult-sized hats between now and then, each of them available for $35.
For each hat sold, at least $20 will be sent to the Sandoval family, for bills, food, whatever they may need.
I say at least $20, because I know that is the minimum I can send. I will update this amount after I figure out realistically how much I will spend in yarn and fees. I am not trying to make money here, I am trying to do what I can in this moment for some folks I love dearly. T
hese hats are well-made, make excellent holiday gifts, and are all washer/dryer safe, something I know we all love and appreciate! I'd love it if you'd consider purchasing one and helping this family out.
** EDITED TO ADD **
I've been asked to share a way to help the family out financially without having to buy a hat, for those who make hats themselves or already have their winter hat situation handled. You can send the Sandoval family money directly to their Paypal address (which is how I will be sending money as well), which is estebanquinn@gmail.com
For example, I don't spend much time talking about how messy our house usually is, and I don't share anything about my work life.
I also don't talk much about faith.
There are many bloggers today who talk faith, specifically Christian faith, in excellent ways. They move people's souls as they share their relationship with Christ freely for all who read, unapologetic in their love of their god and their churches and their Jesus. I have stayed clear of this talk for several reasons - first and foremost, it's hard to share your unapologetic love for Christ when you don't go to church yet live in a world where church attendance counts for more than people would care to admit when it comes to love of Christ.
Mostly though, I don't share my faith because I still struggle with it. I shove against grace with all my might every single day of my life, unsure of just how to live in a world where there is a god who loves everyone so much that he freely sacrificed his child for us.
EVERYONE.
for god so loved THE WORLD.
This kind of love stops me, breaks me, as I try to figure out just how it can be possible. This kind of grace frees me as I know just how not perfect I am.
I struggle because that kind of love and grace seems big enough to push back against the horror that is our world today. The death and destruction and poverty and the overwhelming lack of grace we humans have for one another. How do I, one person, exhibit that grace in a world that seems so hell-bent on blocking it out?
I knit hats because I see the children in my neighborhood walk to school in January without winter coats, and I don't have the money to buy one for each of them. I knit hats because I look in the eyes of the homeless guy sitting on the corner smelling of alcohol and urine and know that someone somewhere loved him, even if it was long ago, and my heart breaks that he is sitting there while I walk by.
I knit hats because I honestly don't know what else to do.
This is my friend Steve. The last time I saw him in person he looked nothing like this strong and fully grown man you see here - he was a 15 year old high school student about to embark on a summer-long mission trip that would change the course of his life. He was tinier than me, heart full of hope and laughter and soccer, and I had known from the moment I laid eyes on him he was special.
I knew Steve when I worked at a large church, in their extra large high school ministry. I knew Steve because he went to the same high school as many of the girls I spent large amounts of time with, praying, laughing, and loving fiercely. And I knew Steve because there is no doubt in my mind he was brought into my life to show me what grace truly is.
Steve is now a grown-up living in Copenhagen with his wife and their two small children, having been called their by our god of grace to live and work. Just typing this blows my mind.
On August 24th Steve was rushed to the hospital following an attack due to a pre-existing medical condition. After evaluations and then surgery, Steve is now looking at a months-long stay in the hospital as he tries to regain movement in his left leg and both arms/hands.
Months away from his amazing wife Dawn and their two little ones Hope and Esben. Months of not knowing, months of pain as his nerves register every touch from every single person as attack and fire.
Half a world away, I spend my time on my knees in tears, because how does this happen? In a world where so much is wrong, how does this little family that is so RIGHT experience this pain? And how am I so far away I can't grab the kids for a few hours so Dawn has some time, can't bring a meal over, can't stop by with coffee and a hug? And so it seems that all I can do is knit.
For each hat sold, at least $20 will be sent to the Sandoval family, for bills, food, whatever they may need.
I say at least $20, because I know that is the minimum I can send. I will update this amount after I figure out realistically how much I will spend in yarn and fees. I am not trying to make money here, I am trying to do what I can in this moment for some folks I love dearly. T
hese hats are well-made, make excellent holiday gifts, and are all washer/dryer safe, something I know we all love and appreciate! I'd love it if you'd consider purchasing one and helping this family out.
** EDITED TO ADD **
I've been asked to share a way to help the family out financially without having to buy a hat, for those who make hats themselves or already have their winter hat situation handled. You can send the Sandoval family money directly to their Paypal address (which is how I will be sending money as well), which is estebanquinn@gmail.com
sandoval fundraiser
Aug 30, 2013
I ran across a new group forming on Ravelry this morning, and wanted to share! 100 Hats For 100 Kids is in support of foster children served by Caring Family Network a non profit organization contracted by the State of TX to serve the daily needs of Foster Children and the families with which they live. Many of these kids have never had a special only for you gift like a hand knit or crochet winter cap. The specifications are as follows:
100 Hats for 100 Kids
I love that this homegrown organization is looking to bring something handmade to the foster kids in Texas! I have a brother who lived in Texas for many years, and he'd always tell me that for Texans, the winters there feel as cold as our winters feel to us up here in Nebraska. They wear huge winter coats and bundle up just like we do, even if to us "northerners" the temperatures would seem mild.
And remember, school-aged kids have larger heads than you'd think -- if you plan to make hats to donate to this cause, make them at least 19" circumference (or 9.5" across when laid flat).
- There is no standard pattern and we want unique items.
- Average winter temps are above freezing, but it is very windy from November to February.
- Please use acrylic or washable yarn… in a Foster home laundry is a group chore and making it easy is important.
- Please use neutral colors that can be both boy and girl hats.
- Biggest ask is for 50 school child hats (elementary school child first to fifth grade)
- For Teens fashion forward colors are great
100 Hats for 100 Kids
PO Box 140287
Austin, TX 78714 USA
I love that this homegrown organization is looking to bring something handmade to the foster kids in Texas! I have a brother who lived in Texas for many years, and he'd always tell me that for Texans, the winters there feel as cold as our winters feel to us up here in Nebraska. They wear huge winter coats and bundle up just like we do, even if to us "northerners" the temperatures would seem mild.
And remember, school-aged kids have larger heads than you'd think -- if you plan to make hats to donate to this cause, make them at least 19" circumference (or 9.5" across when laid flat).
100 Hats for 100 Kids
Jul 29, 2013
This month I have the distinct pleasure of helping build a maternity clinic in Asiri, Ghana. Asiri is a small rural village addressing the critical issues of maternal & infant health and obstetrics in the village.
While traditional midwife practices have been used as long as the village has existed, there are many aspects of it that are potentially exceedingly damaging and life-threatening to both mother and child. Babies are often pulled out too roughly, causing life-long damage to the child’s body, and aren’t given to the mother to nurse upon delivery. Gloveless fingers inserted into the mother continuously during labor, between the midwife cooking food, caring for children and going about her daily life, readily create infection.
Among countless other concerns, there is no testing for diseases, HIV/AIDS, or anything else, as there is for births in proper clinics. (from the Indigogo site)
Imagine being a woman or girl in a dusty rural village, walking into an unlit room without access to electricity or running water. You remove all of your clothing and lie down on the cement floor as labor pains wrack your body. You prepare yourself for the most painful event of your life, one that very well might kill you.
There are no drugs to dull your pain, no gloves to protect you from germs, no instruments to monitor your baby's progress, and not a single doctor or nurse nearby. Labor will continue for hours on end, perhaps even days. This is the most natural human phenomenon in the world, yet it's absolutely terrifying. You have lost control of your body. You know of many women and infants in the village who have not survived this.
Once your baby is born she is placed on the ground off to the side while the midwife focuses on you - the one with the better chance of survival. Once you are cleaned up and sleeping she turns her attention to the baby. Hopefully the baby doesn't aspirate amniotic fluid or meconium since there is no bulb syringe to clean out her nose and throat. Hopefully she doesn't need medical attention because none is near. Hopefully she will live..
I became acquainted with Jasmine, the Peace Corps worker raising the funds for the new maternity clinic, when she contacted me, requesting my help. Excited at her ideas, I immediately jumped on board! Jasmine has started an Indiegogo campaign, which will run for just 26 more days! She is looking to raise just over $14,000 to finish building the much-needed maternity and birthing clinic that will be used to not only build the clinic, but help stock it full of supplies!
Your donation of as little as $20 will help bring this much-needed clinic to life! For my part, for every $20 donation made I will be sending a handmade cap to the clinic! My hope is to stock the shelves full of hats for babies who will be born for years to come -- and I need your help!
Right now the campaign has reached 10% of its goal, leaving quite a bit to go in the next 26 days. Won't you consider donating just $20 to this amazing cause? I'm excited to make as many hats as donations, and will be sharing photos here each week, as well as on Instagram!
let's build a maternity clinic together!
Jul 8, 2013
I can't believe that on Thursday I turn 36!
While this last year (this last decade?!) seems to have flown by, as I look back I can't count the number of things I am thankful for. My life is overflowing with goodness, and for that I am truly thankful. To celebrate we plan to order pizza and watch a movie (we STILL haven't seen Zero Dark Thirty, so I'm hopeful to finally check that one off the list), but I wanted to do a bit more.
And so like most of the best things I've done, last Friday I quickly set up a Charity: Water campaign to celebrate my birthday with a little more style. My goal is simple, albeit large - I'd like to raise $3,600 for my 36th birthday, helping bring clean water to folks in need. I love everything about Charity: Water, and believe the work they are doing is changing lives, communities, and our world.
I've run donation campaigns in the past, donated to other folks' campaigns, and even sent the entire office a box of hats once as a way to say thanks for all they do. I've got some big plans for my 36th birthday, which I'll share more about next week after the birthday celebration hang-over wears off (who am I kidding, we'll be asleep by 10pm!).
In the meantime, I'd love it if you would help me start my 36th year on the planet by making it a better place for some folks. Just $36 will bring clean water to someone in need, and will help me get a step closer towards my goal! Won't you donate today?!
While this last year (this last decade?!) seems to have flown by, as I look back I can't count the number of things I am thankful for. My life is overflowing with goodness, and for that I am truly thankful. To celebrate we plan to order pizza and watch a movie (we STILL haven't seen Zero Dark Thirty, so I'm hopeful to finally check that one off the list), but I wanted to do a bit more.
And so like most of the best things I've done, last Friday I quickly set up a Charity: Water campaign to celebrate my birthday with a little more style. My goal is simple, albeit large - I'd like to raise $3,600 for my 36th birthday, helping bring clean water to folks in need. I love everything about Charity: Water, and believe the work they are doing is changing lives, communities, and our world.
I've run donation campaigns in the past, donated to other folks' campaigns, and even sent the entire office a box of hats once as a way to say thanks for all they do. I've got some big plans for my 36th birthday, which I'll share more about next week after the birthday celebration hang-over wears off (who am I kidding, we'll be asleep by 10pm!).
In the meantime, I'd love it if you would help me start my 36th year on the planet by making it a better place for some folks. Just $36 will bring clean water to someone in need, and will help me get a step closer towards my goal! Won't you donate today?!
$3,600 For My 36th Birthday!
Jun 10, 2013
As the weather turns warmer, and children are heading home for the summer from school, and vacations get added to the calendar, and you keep waiting for your lazy summer to begin ... don't let your knitting fall off the needles to languish at the bottom of your bag!
I always think my summers are going to be calm, perfect for tons of knitting. In fact, my summer is already full of family, zoo trips, a toddler who has decided bedtime is for running around his room in circles, tons of fresh fruit, wrestling matches and couch forts. And while I couldn't be happier, I'm finding less and less time for knitting.
Instead of letting my knitting languish untouched and unloved, I've decided to take drastic measures. I've taken all the yarn out of my knitting bag, put it into the yarn closet, and replaced it with as much sport weight baby-friendly yarn as I could stuff in! My plan for the summer is to make as many baby hats as I can, keeping one on the needles at all times.
I'm modifying my Sandoval hat pattern for this purpose, as I know it by heart and so can knit away until a hat practically falls off the needles on its own. I can knit during movies and while we're riding in the car to birthday parties. I can work a few stitches while we wait for dinner and while I camp out in front of Owen's door at bedtime since he's just figured out how to open it (escape artist jobs in his future, I'm sure of it) and thinks its hilarious to sneak downstairs when he's supposed to be sleeping.
The hats will all be sent to babies in Africa (more on this as a few more things get finalized), and I'm hoping I'll make a big dent in my stash in the process. And my knitting won't languish unloved this summer, not if I've got anything to say about it!
I always think my summers are going to be calm, perfect for tons of knitting. In fact, my summer is already full of family, zoo trips, a toddler who has decided bedtime is for running around his room in circles, tons of fresh fruit, wrestling matches and couch forts. And while I couldn't be happier, I'm finding less and less time for knitting.
Instead of letting my knitting languish untouched and unloved, I've decided to take drastic measures. I've taken all the yarn out of my knitting bag, put it into the yarn closet, and replaced it with as much sport weight baby-friendly yarn as I could stuff in! My plan for the summer is to make as many baby hats as I can, keeping one on the needles at all times.
I'm modifying my Sandoval hat pattern for this purpose, as I know it by heart and so can knit away until a hat practically falls off the needles on its own. I can knit during movies and while we're riding in the car to birthday parties. I can work a few stitches while we wait for dinner and while I camp out in front of Owen's door at bedtime since he's just figured out how to open it (escape artist jobs in his future, I'm sure of it) and thinks its hilarious to sneak downstairs when he's supposed to be sleeping.
The hats will all be sent to babies in Africa (more on this as a few more things get finalized), and I'm hoping I'll make a big dent in my stash in the process. And my knitting won't languish unloved this summer, not if I've got anything to say about it!
Make Baby Hats!
May 28, 2013
May's knit-along (KAL) brings us to a unique group, The Amazing Flying Squirrel Karma Team. This Ravelry group makes it their mission to spread loving-kindness to others using knitting and crochet, and has joined together to send hats to a lovely lady in Arizona who has gone through a number of brain surgeries due to her having Chiari Malformation (link provides more info than I ever could!).
I was contacted by a fellow Raveler about this group, asking if I could help send over hats. Keesha (the woman in the photos) collects hats for the other people at the clinic where she receives her treatment, and has a goal to have a free hat for everyone who enters. I was touched -- that someone would think to ask me if I would send a few hats, and again at my ability to spread the word here, hoping some of you may send hats as well!
Hats can be made in any size, either knitted or crocheted, and can be made using any fiber type (please mark them so Keesha can be aware for allergies). While I may think a wool hat would go unloved in the Arizona heat, people's bodies adapt to their environments, and when you have no hair after surgery you need all the warmth you can get ... this to say send wool hats if that's what you love working with!
To send hats, contact Keesha directly via her blog Chiari Malformation, or send her an e-mail at "daswunderkind@cox.net". I hope to send a dozen or so hats by the end of the month, and will share my knitting progress here on the blog (of course!). This month I'll be knitting from my Simple Slouch Hat and Rain Down Hat patterns for the most part, so grab a free copy of either if you'd like to use them as well!
May KAL: Hats For Brain Injury Patients
May 1, 2013
This photo, taken by a sailor on the USS Higgins. A ship I helped dozens of other knitters send hats to recently.
This sailor, deciding between two purple hats ... one of which I made.
There is so much darkness in the world. So much hatred, so much violence, so much despair and hunger and death and .... darkness.
And what is a hat? It's some yarn, woven together with some sticks. A hat can't cure anything - people will still die of cancer. A hat can't end wars, or bring peace or feed folks.
But these soldiers, who believe so deeply in something larger than themselves? Opening a package of hats like it's Christmas morning (you need to check out the pictures - awesome!)? This is good. This is why I make hats and give them away.
A bit more peace and happiness and love, brought to the world by some yarn and sticks. Maybe one hat can't change the world, but maybe thousands, made every day by folks just like me? Maybe that can.
why i give hats away
Dec 17, 2012
I'm so excited to share with you my first official donation to the 100 Beanie Drive! Like I shared last week, Jess is collecting hats suitable for men that she'll be donating to the oncology center where her dad receives chemo.
I hopped on board instantly - I love knitting hats for men, as they are sorely under-represented in the charity knitting world! While I have plans to send Jess many more hats than just this one, I wanted to get my first one out the door as soon as it was off the needles.
So often I find myself stashing away hats to be sent off to a charity, only to discover them months later ... unsent. I didn't want that to happen with this hat, especially considering Jess's end date for collection being at the end of this month! Remember, you can always ship more later, so don't let those hats pile up unsent to charity because they're waiting for "just a few more" to fill the box up good and proper!
I hopped on board instantly - I love knitting hats for men, as they are sorely under-represented in the charity knitting world! While I have plans to send Jess many more hats than just this one, I wanted to get my first one out the door as soon as it was off the needles.
So often I find myself stashing away hats to be sent off to a charity, only to discover them months later ... unsent. I didn't want that to happen with this hat, especially considering Jess's end date for collection being at the end of this month! Remember, you can always ship more later, so don't let those hats pile up unsent to charity because they're waiting for "just a few more" to fill the box up good and proper!
my contribution to the 100 beanie drive
Jul 11, 2012
I recently came into contact with Sarah, a woman who works with the Washington Hancock Community Agency in Maine. She knew how much I like to knit for nest:Maine, and wnated to make me aware of her organiation, and how they are providing both handmade items and new coats to folks in their community!
From her e-mail:
Winterwear is a new program at the Washington Hancock Community Agency, serving Washington and Hancock counties, in eastern Maine. These counties are rural but big, by eastern standards. They cover an area about the size of Connecticut, but only have about 70,000 people. Over 700 used coats and 500 new coats were donated and distributed to children and adults in the two counties. Most of these coats were delivered with hats and mittens, while supplies lasted.
In addition to this, people who had coats but needed hats and mittens were able to get them. Up to 1000 hats and pairs of mittens were distributed. Because demand was so high, we put up two mitten trees for local residents to donate. Several individuals knitted hats and mittens for the program, including a local nursing home resident. Agency employees were encouraged to make hats for the program (one employee offered a batch of no-bake cookies to everyone who donated a half dozen hats.)
Distribution points:
The bad news is we are out of hats and mittens and scarves! I have a bag I am working on filling, and hope I can encourage others to do the same, it’s a stash buster!) All sizes, shapes and colors are welcome, fiber content doesn’t matter, although warmer is better – this is Maine! Anything that is donated will be much appreciated. If name and address are included in shipment, acknowledgement will be made.
I've already added this amazing group to my list of places to send hand knits - it sounds like they've got a huge need for hats and mittens for the cold months to come this year!
If you're interested in sending handmade items (or coats!), simply mail your items to the address below:
Sarah Nugent
PO Box 299
Ellsworth, ME 04605
From her e-mail:
Winterwear is a new program at the Washington Hancock Community Agency, serving Washington and Hancock counties, in eastern Maine. These counties are rural but big, by eastern standards. They cover an area about the size of Connecticut, but only have about 70,000 people. Over 700 used coats and 500 new coats were donated and distributed to children and adults in the two counties. Most of these coats were delivered with hats and mittens, while supplies lasted.
In addition to this, people who had coats but needed hats and mittens were able to get them. Up to 1000 hats and pairs of mittens were distributed. Because demand was so high, we put up two mitten trees for local residents to donate. Several individuals knitted hats and mittens for the program, including a local nursing home resident. Agency employees were encouraged to make hats for the program (one employee offered a batch of no-bake cookies to everyone who donated a half dozen hats.)
Distribution points:
- Local schools Down East YMCA day care (Hancock County)
- The Next Step domestic violence prevention project (serves both counties)
- Local food pantries (serving both counties)
- WHCA (clients walked in or were referred from our other programs, serving both counties)
- Names came in from churches, schools, head start, and other agencies for individual coat requests.
The bad news is we are out of hats and mittens and scarves! I have a bag I am working on filling, and hope I can encourage others to do the same, it’s a stash buster!) All sizes, shapes and colors are welcome, fiber content doesn’t matter, although warmer is better – this is Maine! Anything that is donated will be much appreciated. If name and address are included in shipment, acknowledgement will be made.
I've already added this amazing group to my list of places to send hand knits - it sounds like they've got a huge need for hats and mittens for the cold months to come this year!
If you're interested in sending handmade items (or coats!), simply mail your items to the address below:
Sarah Nugent
PO Box 299
Ellsworth, ME 04605
washington hancock community agency
May 10, 2012
a few weeks ago, i sent off a box full of hats to a ravelry friend who lives in Chicago. last year Kathie knit about 60 hats for her neighborhood food pantry, for their annual Christmas party thrown for the kids who use the food pantry all year.
as she dropped them off, she was informed over 1,000 kids would be attending the party that year.
overwhelmed by the tremendous need in her area of Chicago (this food pantry is one of many that serve the Chicago area), she set a goal to have as many hats for these kids at their 2011 Christmas party as she could!
i heard about her mission on a Ravelry charity board, and immediately started knitting. i had several hats already finished that were intended for charity, and so i added those to the pile and sent off around 20 hats to Kathie, and then began all over again.
with such a huge need, i'm asking those of you who read this space that also knit or crochet to jump in and help me out - there's a lot of need here, but i'm confident we can blow Kathie away with our donations!
want to help me knit some hats for Chicago kids? here's a few helpful guidelines Kathie shared with me:
** Any type of yarn fiber, yarn color, or hat size are needed. There will be kids at this party ranging from toddlers to older teens, and both boys and girls will show up, so any and every type of hat is needed!
** They expect at least as many kids to attend the party as this year. Chicago's unemployment rate is huge right now, as many industries are still laying folks off.
** The party usually happens the first Tuesday in December, so Kathie will need all hats by the end of November - that gives us a month of serious knitting to get as many hats to her as possible!
i'll be sharing photos of the hats i'm knitting for her over the next few weeks, as well as linking to some great free patterns you can use. if you're interested in helping out, you can either send her a message on Ravelry (her Rav name is kathied5732) or you can e-mail me at rmcdevine@gmail.com for her address.
help me send some hats to a chicago food pantry!
Oct 10, 2011
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