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Knitting may be its own reward, but knitting for less-fortunate others can feel even better. Here, some of the charities and organizations that can use your help
A non-denominational organization devoted to creating blankets for those Canadians who need the warmth they provide. Blankets for Canada is non-profit. According to the Blankets for Canada Web site "everything is donated by warm hearted people just like you". There are 40 chapters across Canada; last year 5,100 blankets were donated to groups that distribute goods to the needy.
Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization. The Project Linus mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, homemade, washable blankets and afghans, lovingly crafted by volunteers.
afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that is sending hand-knit and crocheted blankets and garments to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan.
The Precious Pals Program provides immediate comfort to children in crisis by providing thousands of stuffed animals with knitted outfits to law enforcement agencies all over the United States.
The, "Keep Canada Warm" project will provide warm handmade blankets for the homeless. These articles will be distributed to people on the streets of Canada. We will be going anywhere they can be found to hand them out personally.
In 1991, a knitting yarn retailer decided there had to be a way she could help the homeless. Her simple concept of asking customers, friends and the community to knit and crochet 7" X 9" sections that would be joined into afghans grew into a nationwide program that has produced more than 80,000 afghans. These afghans have been donated to victims of natural disasters, battered women's shelters, the homeless, and others less fortunate than ourselves.
In 1994, the Craft Yarn Council of America, a non-profit association of American yarn spinners, distributors and publishers, took the program under its wing, broadening awareness by initiating links with national organizations such as the American Red Cross
Editor's Note: If you know of other national charity knitting projects, write KnitNet.
Local Initiatives
The North York Knitting Guild
Afghan and mitts, gloves, hats and scarves for the homeless and needy families.
Meets 4th Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at
The Salvation Army
25 Centre Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
Donates yarn, tools and knitting lessons to Sistering, a day shelter for
homeless women and women who live in precarious living conditions and donates children and baby garments to Better Beginnings and Better Futures, a program in which home-visit nurses distribute the knitted garments to families.
Meets third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at
Bloor St. United Church at the corner of Huron & Bloor
Editor's Note: Add your Guild to this list if you have a charity knitting project.
(KnitNet is providing these links as a public service but cannot guarantee that the organizations named are fulfilling their mandate as described.)
Knitting sites: if you'd like a free graphic to link to this page, email charityknitting@knitnet.com. Thanks!
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