The best craft material of all is love. Whether it’s providing much-needed items such as warm clothing, or simply comfort in a crisis, whether you knit, sew, crochet, or any other craft, and whatever your experience level, there are many ways crafters can help others. I’ll be adding a more comprehensive list of organisations that accept donations of handmade items in the resources area shortly, but in the meantime, here are a few programs for spreading the crafty love:
CraftHope has regular craft projects for various organisations, supporting people both at home and abroad. They ran an etsy shop selling handmade items from donors worldwide, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders – this is now closing, but keep an eye out as they are looking for a way to run the shop more manageably. Their other projects are still ongoing.
Knitted Knockers helps breast cancer survivors by supplying knitted prosthetic breasts. Regular silicone prosthetics or reconstructive surgery are out of the reach of many uninsured women, and even those with insurance may have difficulties. Knit a knocker or two to give a survivor a bit of ‘normality’ back – more fun and more useful than just wearing a pink ribbon!
Project Linus and Binky Patrol have similar aims – giving handmade blankets and quilts to children in need of comfort – whether through illness, trauma, homelessness, or otherwise in need. Blankets can be knit, crocheted, sewn or quilted.
Compassionate Creations gives knit or crochet comfort scarves to survivors of sexual violence and abuse, offering support at an intensely painful time. Another crisis-comfort organisation is ‘don’t be afraid… I’m here bears‘ – these knit, crocheted or sewn bears are supplied to Child Protection Services to be given to children entering foster care, and providing some much-needed comfort at a traumatic and confusing time (warning – music on website!).
If you’re a teacher, youth leader, or just have a child who likes to draw, you could brighten up an elderly person’s day through ‘color a smile‘, an organisation that send out children’s cheerful drawings to care homes and meals-on-wheels programs.
On the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, some 40 000 people live with grinding poverty (unemployment is over 80% and the average household income is just $6000 pa) and extreme weather (winter temperatures can dip to -60F). Organisations on the reservation welcome donations of handmade clothing and craft supplies.
These are just a few ways you can use your craft skills to help others. I hope to add many more soon! If you know of an organisation which is in need of handcrafted donations, please let me know either in comments or by emailing info@abigailscraftshowto.com
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It really is true, the best craft material is love. It is also one of the few resources that keeps on flowing and growing the more you dissipates it.