Cast On With Casting Off the Cold
Casting Off the Cold makes a difference in local lives
With Casting Off the Cold, it doesn't matter if you're in Trinidad or Canada, you're going to make a difference.
Hobby knitter Sally Karamath was born in Trinidad, where her family frequently helped the poor and homeless. After moving to Canada, she was disappointed to see the number of homeless people suffering in the cold winters and decided to help. That quickly, Casting Off the Cold leaped into existence, and it's grown at an exponential rate ever since.
What They Do
Like many charity organizations, Casting Off the Cold works to help a wide variety of local facilities in Markham, Ontario. Its members started as a small group knitting for the homeless, but they now knit for pregnancy centers, bereavement programs at hospitals, Project Linus, and women's shelters, among many others.
Casting off the Cold, like many knitting charities, has blossomed far beyond what its founders could have anticipated. They receive thousands of donations from around the world, and they support many charity organizations for a wide variety of people.
What They Need
A fun thing about Casting off the Cold is that they accept just about anything you feel like making. Some knitting charities are, of necessity, quite specific about what they need. But Casting Off the Cold donates to so many different organizations that they need just about anything you feel like knitting.
For example, some of the items they request include hats, scarves, preemie clothing, afghans in all sizes, and baby jackets. So pretty much anything you feel like knitting, Casting Off the Cold will find it a home. And if you're stuck for ideas, they always have a list of their current needs on their blog, along with many links to free knitting patterns.
Getting Involved
Obviously, the best way to help knitting charities is to knit for charity, so check out their current needs and get working!
In addition to donating their projects to charities, Casting Off the Cold raises money for their endeavors, so you can also buy their products at many Ontario festivals. They also have an annual spring garage sale, and they welcome donations for it as well (or, if you happen to be in the area, you could just stop by).
Casting Off the Cold also has a very strong online presence. They have a newsletter, an online knitting group, a blog, and a Casting Off the Cold website, just to name a few. So it's easy to get information on this awesome charity and the other knitting charities they support.
I know you love to knit for charity, so if you're looking for something new to support, here's your mission! Grab your needles and knit something for Casting Off the Cold today.
