Anybody craft for charity?

[MidnightCafe]

Do any of you knit/crochet/sew/etc for charity, for a particular organization? I'm interested in making prayer shawls or possibly scarves or hats for chemo patients. My mom just passed away from a rare, aggressive form of cancer, and I'd like to find a way to channel my energy right now into helping others - either people who are experiencing illness or those in hospice.

So, anyway, I'd like to know your experiences. I'd like to know if there's an organization you like to work with? Do you recommend local places over larger organizations? My mom's clinic is an hour away from where I live, or I'd automatically go to the cancer support center there. I might still because it's close to my dad.

Any cautions? Ideas? BTDT info?

[Maedchen]

I found out about a project at our local senior center through some friends. They were approached about making laghans for hospice. I have been making laghans for the last 2 months.

I have an aunt that made lapghans for the cancer center my uncle is receiving chemo at. Some of the people are so cold and ill when they start and they got great comfort during their treatments.

I have not made the chemo hats, but they are appreciated also. You just have to be more careful picking out the yarn because of how sensitive your head gets when the hair is gone. (really soft yarn that also does not cause itching.) With the cold weather, I am sure there would be a need for that soon.

If you are a really strong person, even the children's cancer wards could probably use blankets.

Prayer shawls are a big project at some of the churches here. The ladies even work on these during church services....... There pastor approves. They leave the shawls with a sign out sheet for people to put down who they give the shawls to. (In their church it could be someone with any illness, elderly, lost a job or family member.) You might want to consider something like that if you would prefer to do something closer to home.

I am sorry for you loss!:heart

[Punkie]

I started a chapter of Head Huggers (https://bayareaheadhuggers.wordpress.com/) after my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Local hospitals started contacting me shortly after I started the group. We have a rav group (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/bay-area-head-huggers) and facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/BayAreaHeadHuggers), if anyone is interested. I focus on knitting for my group, since I know that the need is so great, but I also knit for other groups.

I also LOVE knitting for Mother Bear. This is one of my bears that made it to this adorable girl in South Africa:
http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/hippiemommy/107715925/IMG_2260-319807742_small.jpg

The Mother Bear in-the-round pattern (http://www.motherbearproject.org/pattern.html) is really easy and mindless, and I find it super satisfying. I try to send them a box of 5 or so bears every few months. Their rav group (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/mother-bear-project) is quite active.

I also knit for Wool Aid (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/wool-aid/topics), Afghans for Afghans, Bundle of Joy, and pretty much anyone else who it seems has a big need and I can help. The Charity Knitting group (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/charity-knitting) on ravelry is excellent for info.

HTH!

[MidnightCafe]

Thank you!! The info totally helps. One thing I always wonder is if organizations really appreciate this stuff or if they get overwhelmed or if it's more work for them or whatever. It's good to hear that there's a demand.

I need to make some local contacts...but I will also check out the links & ideas here.

I'm halfway through making my first prayer shawl...but I realized a mistake I made with the pattern, and now I have to decide if I can work around it or if I need to start over. :-/

I love to hear your stories! Thank you! :)

[Punkie]

I'm happy to help!

I can tell you that the organizations that I knit for all REALLY appreciate it.

After I started my Head Huggers group, I almost immediately started getting emails from hospitals saying that they were in desperate need of chemo caps and wanting to know if I could help. The need is SO great. The hospitals that are emailing me are saying that they are literally out.

When my mom was taken off of life support, we were given a lap blanket that was crocheted by a volunteer. They placed in on her in her bed. I really treasure it as something that demonstrated love during a very hard time, and something that was there at that moment. The nurses told me that the lap blankets get taken really quickly, and they often run out. Our local hospitals also have lap blanket programs that are always in need.

As far as Mother Bear... They've currently delivered 81,200 bears to children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Amy, who runs Mother Bear, said on the ravelry group that she currently receives about 1,000 bears a month, but they need about 15,000,000, so it isn't like they are going to run out of children to give the bears.

Wool Aid has different campaigns. They give updates on where the items are sent and include pictures when they can. Here's one: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/wool-aid/2130636/1-25

Afghans for Afghans only calls for items when they are needed. Here's their current one: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/fans-of-afghans-for-afghans/1832104/1-25#18

As far as the mistake in the pattern, if no one else would know, I would keep going on. If it is really obvious, then I tear back, but I can usually work it in so it isn't a big deal. Either way, I know it is going to be very loved by its recipient. :heart

[MidnightCafe]

Thank you again! I'm thinking I might have to start some kind of group in my area. There is a Head Huggers group, but it doesn't have a website & doesn't look very organized. I have a good friend, who will help me with whatever I want to do. She & I took turns living at each other's houses as children. So, she knew my mom well, and she would like to do something. She's super good with planning and organizing. So, together we could make some kind of group happen.

ETA: I keep running off without saying how sorry I am about your mom. This has got to be one of the hardest things I've ever had to live through. I'm sure it is for you, too.

[Punkie]

That sounds like a great idea. I've been really happy working with Head Huggers. Consider talking to the women who runs it, because getting listed on her site really directs a lot of interested parties (both hospitals and knitters) your way. She doesn't care even if you're just a group of 1, and she was fine with me starting one even though there was already a group near me (although it wasn't active and didn't have a website.)

I'm really sorry about your mom, too. :bheart I agree that it is really, really tough. I think that as the shock of it wears off, more of the reality has been setting in for me over the past few months. I joined a few local motherless daughter groups, and they've actually been really helpful. It is nice to talk to other women who understand. My mom's birthday, the 6 month anniversary of her death, the 1-year anniversary from when they told us the cancer was back, plus the holidays are all coming up in the next month or so, so I think it may be emotionally bumpy for our family for a little while... :sad2

Let me know if you have any questions or if there is any way I can help you out with your group. I decided to start a monthly cap drop-off/knit night for my group, and that has been really great for connecting with the knitters and giving people a (very soft) deadline each month to encourage them to finish caps. :)

[MidnightCafe]

I'm going to talk this all over with my friend tomorrow & see what we come up with!