Knitting for Charity: Children in Need
One thing that I've noticed in the knitting community is that many people would like to knit for charity but don't always know how. Where to donate? What to donate?
I wanted to answer some of these questions by putting together a list of charities and organizations in search of hand-knit or crocheted items.
In this post, I will share ways to donate to charities that have to do with babies or children in need, whether that be illness, poverty, or hospitalization.
Warm Up American began with the idea to quickly work up small sections and join together to create afghans for neighbors in need. Today, Warm Up America distributes everything from afghans to preemie hats. View their current needs on their website.
The Warm Hands Network connects volunteer knitters and crocheters with Northern communities to provide clothing to children in remote locations. The goal is not only to provide children with warm hand-knit clothing throughout the winter but also to convey the message that others wish them well.
The mission of Knots of Love is to warms the hearts and heads of children, women, men, and veterans going through chemo. Since 2007, 385,435 beanies and blankets have been distributed.
This charity aims to provide orphaned and abandoned children in Africa with blankets, hats, vests, and pullovers. Volunteers can send in 8x8 squares which are then combined to make blankets to support the children's charities working to provide for their basic human needs.
Bundles of Love works to help Minnesota families in need by providing handmade items to newborns. They aim to create a world where every newborn has access to the basics.
Based in Connecticut, Knitting and Giving provides donated hand-knit or crocheted items to hospitals, homeless shelters, and more. They give both locally and abroad. Current calls for items can be found on their website.
The Mother Bear Project brings hope to children affected by HIV/AIDs in developing nations by showing them love through the gift of a hand-knit or crocheted bear.
This organizations works to provide hand-knit garments to help children during the harsh winter months.
"Warming children one stitch at a time."
This UK based charity began by knitting clothing for street children and orphans in India and Rwanda. Since its beginning, this charity has grown to donate hand knit items to over eighty outlets including hospitals, to refugees, prisons, community groups, and hospice care.
Care Wear works to provide handmade items to hospitalized infants and children. Their website includes both patterns and hospitals seeking donations.
Binky Patrol sews, knits, quilts, and crochets blankets for children and teens who are sick, in hospitals, in foster care, in shelters, abused, homeless, or experiencing trauma. Blinky Patrol hops to provide some comfort during these trying times.
A Child's Light educates parents about normal infant crying in an attempt to reduce the number of infants affected by Shaken Baby Syndrome. Volunteers are asked to knit purple hats, known as Period of Purple Crying Caps, which are then distributed to families of infants.
The goal of Kozy Kovers for Kids is to give a new handmade blanket to children who enter the foster care system and to any child that is in crisis.
Actress Erin Cummings began this organization when she was inspired by someone giving a pair of mittens to a child in need. This organization distributes through partner charities in Detroit.
Calypso's Ocean supports parents through an online memorial page and donated bereavement items for babies who passed away while still in the Hospital or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The mission of Project Linus 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, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers." Since 1995, over 6 million blankets have been delivered.
Started by a mother in memory of her daughter who passed away at 9 months old, this charity donates items to babies in the NICU.
This charity provides free clothing and memory items for babies gone too soon in the UK.
This charity provides knit items for children throughout the United States.
"Knit for Kids is a nationwide program that unites thousands of volunteer knitters to fight poverty with our knitting needles."
Feel Better Friends are handmade dolls stuffed with love and well wishes, crafted by volunteers and donated to children battling cancer and other illnesses. These dolls are custom made for the child and can even be made to have a matching wig or resemble the child.
Started by a mother to honor her son Robby who was born at 23 weeks and died shortly after birth, this organization sends hats and blankets to babies born prematurely that will not survive.
This list is by no means comprehensive but is meant to introduce crafters to new charities and organizations accepting handmade items. Local shelters, hospitals, hospice centers, nursing homes, and churches are all other ways you can get involved.
I hope this list has brought you some joy and introduced you to a new charity or two.
