Knitting Charity, Organisation and Resource Database
(In Progress)
Adopt a Native Elder
http://www.anelder.org/
A non-profit organisation which supports Native American elders by providing clothing, food, medicine, supplies and companionship. Volunteers can contribute yarn and knitting supplies, or handmade knit and crochet articles.
Afghans for Afghans
http://www.afghansforafghans.org/
Inspired by the Red Cross volunteers who supplied handknit items to soldiers and refugees during the first and second World War, this organisation provides handknit and crochets clothing and blankets to families across Afghanistan.
Alternative Gifts International
http://www.altgifts.org/
A wonderful organisation which provides grassroots donations of culturally specific needs across the globe. Knitters can donate money towards goats, llamas and sheep, which are then supplied to international families who rely on their animals to supply wool for knitting. This gives them a skill set and livelihood.
American Red Cross-Web of Hope
Contact: Linda Southworth- 804-779-3453
A volunteer branch of the American Red Cross, based in The Greater Richmond Chapter, which provides handknit items to families and individuals across the globe.
Artists Helping Children-Charity Knitting for Children
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/charityknittingforchildren.html
This organisation is no longer accepting donations of knitwear to their charity, however they have left up the webpage as an excellent resource for anyone looking for help and inspiration on knitting for charity.
Baby Bear Project
http://www.babybearproject.tk/
A UK charity providing basic baby materials for some of the poorest families in South Africa.
Binky Patrol
http://www.binkypatrol.org/
A large US organisation which provides handknit, crocheted, sewn and quilted blankets to sick children (newborns-teenagers).
Bundles of Love
http://www.bundlesoflove.org/
A Minnesota-based organisation which helps newborn children by sending them home with care packages, including handmade blankets and clothing.
Calypso's Ocean
http://www.calypsosocean.com/
A neonatal loss rememberance page which fundraises, and provides bereavement packages for families who have lost their newborns.
Caps for a Cure
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/capsforacure/
A group of volunteer knitters who provide hats for chemotherapy patients, as well as free hat patterns.
Chemo Caps
An organisation which distributes handknit hats and caps to cancer patients across the US, with advice on how to start a Chemo Caps chapter in your own region.
Children in Common
http://www.childrenincommon.org/
Christmas at Sea
http://www.seamenschurch.org/
Creating Hope
http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/
Cubs for Kids
http://www.cubsforkids.com/
An organisation which provides teddy bears for homeless children. They provide the stuffed bears, and knitters provide the yarn and creativity to dress the toys, which are distriputed during the holidays.
ESRA Handknitted Garments for Israel
http://www.esra.org.il/
Interweave Knits
http://www.interweaveknits.com/community/charities.asp
The brilliant people at Interweave have a great webpage listing knitting charities.
Knit-a-Square
A registered charity which collects 8" knit squares, sews them into blankets, and distributes them to AIDS orphans and abandoned children across Africa. Their 2011 goal is 175,000 squares, which will make 5,000 blankets. It's easy, it's fun, it's fast and it makes a big difference!
The Knitting Connection
http://www.theknittingconnection.org/index.html
An organisation which gathers knitting donations and supplies to provide materials, clothing and instruction to families in times of need.
Knitting for Charity
A great resource for anyone interested in using their knitting projects, patterns and skills for charitable means. There are some great discounted and free patterns. I particularly like the "patterns dogs love" collection :)
Lantern Moon
http://www.lanternmoon.com/
An organisation which supports Vietnamese families by providing knitting supplies and materials.
Macmillan Infi-Knit
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolved/Campaigns/Freezeoutfuelpoverty/Fuel_poverty_campaign.aspx
The MacMillan Cancer Support Organisation is knitting a "scarf petition" to protest the rise of heating costs in the UK, where 1 our of every 5 cancer patients, despite feeling cold due to chemotherapy, turns down their heat in winter to save money.
Mother Bear Project
http://www.motherbearproject.org/
A non-profit organisation which supports children affected by AIDS across Africa by sending hand-knit and crocheted stuffed bears.
Newborns in Need
http://www.newbornsinneed.org/
A non-profit organisation providing care for premature, ill or impoverished newborns. Volunteers supply knitted, crocheted or sewn baby items, and local chapters gather formula and other items to distribute across communities.
p/hop
A British charity which raises money for MSF (Medicins San Frontieres, ie, Doctor Beyond Borders), based on the premise that you donate Per/Hour Of Pleasure (p/hop) for each project you complete from their collection of knitting and crochet patterns.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry
http://www.shawlministry.com/
A website detailing the spiritual and meditative benefits of making prayer shawls.
The Purl Foundation
http://www.thepurlfoundation.org/
A NYC-based organisation which provides handknit clothing and blankets to the city's homeless, as well as increasing awareness of homelessness.
Stitches from the Heart
A non-profit organisation which provides handknit clothing, blankets and love to premature babies. They also operate a program for Seniors, enabling the elderly to help others by donating yarn and supplies
Woolworks
http://www.woolworks.org/charity.html
A great resource, listing knitting charities and organisations by US state.
Woolworks
http://www.woolworks.org/charity.html
A great resource, listing knitting charities and organisations by US state.
