Whether you live in Texas or New Hampshire, From the Heart of Texas provides a great opportunity for charity knitting

Like so many other groups of charitable knitters, From the Heart of Texas started out with a group of friends having coffee. These women met to crochet, knit, and sew for charity, enjoying one another's company and their shared mission.

However, before long a corner of Houston wasn't enough for these ambitious ladies, and they moved their organization online. Now From the Heart of Texas reaches charities across the world and has dozens of members in their online group.

Continue reading "From the Heart of Texas to a Child's Hands" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:40 AM | Permalink

Share your joy in creating with impoverished families with Afghans for Amigos

Jimmie Lu boasts that Afghans for Amigos can find a home for anything you might make -- and challenges you to try that boast! She and her husband, both ordained ministers, practice short term mission trips where they travel to various places to lend help and support. Their most common destinations? Mexico and Native American reservations in South Dakota.

Continue reading "Afghans for Amigos Carries Knitting Donations to Mexico" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:33 AM | Permalink

Put your needles to work for neglected animals with bunny knits!

When you think of bunny knits, you probably think of, well, knitting bunnies -- in other words, toys for small children. And while that's a worthwhile goal, that's not what we're talking about here! I've written about several charities that accept knitted blankets for dogs and cats -- mostly shelters and SPCA locations. But do you know that hundreds of rabbits are abused, mistreated, and abandoned every single year?

Continue reading "Bunny Knits Might Mean More Than You Think" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:17 AM | Permalink

Out of ideas or want something new? Try knitting blankets for teenage boys!

Over on Loop Knits, contributors Craig and Laura make an interesting point about blankets for teenage boys: there aren't any!

According to Craig, Janet Geissler, head of the Philadelphia chapter of The Linus Project, says that her biggest need is blankets for teenage boys. Why should that be?

Continue reading "Fantastic Blankets for Teenage Boys" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:34 AM | Permalink

Know someone affected by cancer? Join Click for a Cure and help make a difference!

The women who make up Click for a Cure all know the sting of cancer. They are volunteers in Florida and beyond determined to share their love and kindness with cancer victims, especially those with breast cancer. It's a great opportunity for women to bond and help each other, regardless of nation, age, race, or borders.

Continue reading "Click for a Cure to Breast Cancer With These Dedicated Women!" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:59 PM | Permalink

Whatever your passion, Community Yarn Creations can help you find a charity it’ll benefit.

Community Yarn Creations is a group near Seattle in Washington State. They donate a wide variety of knitted and crocheted items to local organizations and families in need. No matter where you are, though, Community Yarn Creations will happily accept your donations and spread your generosity around.

Continue reading "Community Yarn Creations Shares the Joy of Crafting with Others!" »

Posted by Nellie at 11:35 AM | Permalink

Believe it or not, knitting projects make great community service ideas for children and adults alike!

If you're looking for community service ideas for a group of kids -- whether it be a classroom, church group, Scout pack, or what have you -- knitting is a great opportunity! In addition to providing community service ideas, knitting teaches kids valuable skills, improves eye-hand coordination, and gives them a real sense of accomplishment when they master the skills. Learning to knit will give you a ton of community service ideas and a fun project to do as a group!

Continue reading "Great Community Service Ideas for Kids (and Grown-Ups, Too!)" »

Posted by Nellie at 12:02 PM | Permalink

Life can be hard in a Russian orphanage, but a hat or vest from Warm Woolies gives kids something to smile about!

Warm Woolies works in some of the harshest climates in the world, delivering cozy vests, mittens, hats, and slippers to orphans in Russia and other disadvantaged countries. Their goal is to make 6,000 pieces of warm clothing to protect children from the winter cold!

Continue reading "Warm Woolies: Making Winter Warmer for Orphaned Children" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:27 AM | Permalink

There's nothing harder than seeing your children homeless, but Warming Families is there to provide blankets for those in need.

Warming Families is one part of a larger charity called One Heart Foundation. Their goal is to strengthen and help families in need through everyone's favorite activity: knitting! Warming Families does so much more than just hand out blankets. It gives hope to families in need and provides fun, educational projects for knitters and their families!

Continue reading "Warming Families: Help Keep a Family Cozy This Winter!" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:22 AM | Permalink

Project H.A.N.D.S. links the elderly and the very young, providing homeless children with knitted items.

Project H.A.N.D.S is the brainchild of residents from the Retirement Housing Foundation, who wanted a way to give back to the community. Their initial efforts have expanded, and they now provide homeless children everywhere with hats, scarves, and toys.

Continue reading "Project H.A.N.D.S. Builds Friendships and Helps Those in Need" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:18 AM | Permalink

Magic Mittens and Mufflers for Mongolian Children makes magic out of yarn, needles, and thread!

You don't hear much about Mongolia in the news, but Magic Mittens and Mufflers for Mongolian Children is determined to change all that by providing warm, handmade objects to Mongolian children in need.

Continue reading "Magic Mittens and Mufflers for Mongolian Children: Spreading Love and Hope Around the Globe!" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:14 AM | Permalink

Among their many projects to help children in need, Life 2 Orphans has set out to knit a hat for every orphan in Ukraine!

Life 2 Orphans works with some of the neediest children in the world: those trapped in orphanages in Ukraine. The statistics are frightening: within a year of leaving the orphanage, 15% of Ukrainian orphans commit suicide. Those who don't usually move on to jail. But Life 2 Orphans aims to change all that through gifts of love and hope!

Continue reading "Life 2 Orphans Brings new Life to Ukrainian Orphanages" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:34 AM | Permalink

Bonnie Babies is there when grieving or frightened parents need to know someone cares.

There's nothing as hard as watching a premature baby struggle to survive. Bonnie Babies makes that struggle just a bit easier by providing blankets and other items to show families they're not alone!

Continue reading "Bonnie Babies: Helping to Nurture Premature Children" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:21 AM | Permalink

Afghans of Honor reminds men and women who have stood in harm's way in defense of their country that they are appreciated and remembered!

Afghans of Honor knows that war is a controversial subject, but they're not out to discuss politics, beliefs, and creeds. Afghans of Honor has only one goal in mind: to honor those who have been injured in the defense of their country through a warm, loving, handmade gift!

Continue reading "Afghans of Honor Reaches out to Wounded Soldiers" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:15 AM | Permalink

The Adoption Center of Washington is determined to improve the lives of all orphans, not just adopted children.

The Adoption Center of Washington does far more than connect hopeful parents with children. It also provides medication and clothing to help improve lives in overseas orphanages. In addition to helping families with their new children, the Adoption Center of Washington is determined to improve the lives of orphans worldwide.

Continue reading "The Adoption Center of Washington: Bringing Families and Orphans Together" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:04 AM | Permalink

Project Angel Kisses aims to knit tiny kisses of joy for families with preemie babes!

Project Angel Kisses aims to make sure that every parent of a premature child knows that someone is thinking about them and praying for their child. They do this by sending individualized hats, booties, and blankets to premature babies!

Continue reading "Project Angel Kisses Gives Hope to Families With Premature Babies" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:34 AM | Permalink

Premature babies have enough strikes against them, so Stitches from the Heart does its best to send them home with comfy knitted goodies.

Knitters, here's your next case: Stitches from the Heart. This California-based non-profit distributes tiny knitted blankets and clothing to precious premature infants in hospitals all over the country. Along with their handmade items, they make sure to send along a lot of love, too.

Continue reading "Clothing Babies with Stitches from the Heart" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:19 AM | Permalink

New socks are always welcome in any wartime situation, which is why Socks for Soldiers wants to knit a pair for every soldier fighting the War on Terror.

All soldiers yearn for care packages from home, and Socks for Soldiers is one of the organizations currently answering that yearning. Their specialty is providing sturdy, comfortable knitted socks to replace or supplement standard issue for soldiers engaged in our current War on Terror.

While the military does its best, it has to clothe millions of people as inexpensively as it can. Sadly, the acrylic and nylon socks modern soldiers get wear out quickly and can cause blisters. That's not the case with Big Black Socks knitted by Socks for Soldiers.

Continue reading "Socks for Soldiers Puts Socks on the Wartime Feet" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:43 AM | Permalink

Premature and newborn babies have a champion in Newborns in Need, which provides everything our littlest ones require, included knitted clothing.

Newborns in Need is a most deserving charity, dedicated as it is to fulfilling the needs of premature and newborn babies all over the country.

Although their craft charity makes up only a small part of the wide range of services Newborns in Need offers, it's an active one that provides garments to thousands of needy children every year. Volunteers don't just knit -- they also sew and crochet these much-needed items.

Continue reading "Nurturing Newborns in Need" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:59 AM | Permalink

During World War II, volunteer knitters were crucial to the war effort. Now they're back at it.

Knit Your Bit may be one of the youngest knitting charities out there, but it has a sterling pedigree: its founders patterned it after a program championed by the Red Cross back in World War II. Today's incarnation provides simple but cozy scarves for veterans all across the country, many of whom benefited from the original program more than 50 years ago.

Continue reading "Bringing History Alive with Knit Your Bit" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:20 AM | Permalink

Few things are more crushing than the death of a child, especially an infant. But when you need them, Heavenly Angels in Need is there to help shoulder the burden.

Some knitting charities touch the heart more than others, and Heavenly Angels in Need is one of them. Although no one likes to think about such things, the reality is that HAIN's craft charity fills an important need: the provision of tiny burial and memorial items for little angels who die far too young.

Continue reading "Heavenly Angels in Need: Help for Grieving Parents" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:01 AM | Permalink

It's bad enough to be homeless, and not having warm clothes just adds injury to insult. That's why Hats for the Homeless provides warm knitted items to the homeless of New York City.

Think, for a moment, how cold you get in the winter. Then think about how much colder you'd be if you lived outside all the time. Then think about getting out your knitting needles and putting together a hat, a pair of mittens or socks, or a shawl for the Hats for the Homeless, which helps clothe homeless New Yorkers.

Continue reading "Hats for the Homeless: Keeping NYC Warm" »

Posted by Nellie at 11:22 AM | Permalink

Homeless kids don't have much to smile about, but Cubs for Kids is out to change that with an army of cute bear cubs, each outfitted in a unique knitted suit.

For many of us, a teddy bear was the most beloved toy of our childhood, acting as confidant, buddy, and security blanket all in one. Cubs for Kids remembers what it was like to be a kid, and how much a quiet little helper can mean to a worried kid. That's why their mission is to distribute cutely dressed teddy bears to kids aged 3-6 in homeless shelters all over the USA.

Continue reading "Cubs for Kids: Providing Homeless Kids with Well-Dressed Buddies" »

Posted by Nellie at 7:23 PM | Permalink

Working on ocean-going vessels is hard, dangerous work, and it's doubly hard in the winter. But Christmas at Sea doesn't let our merchant mariners go forgotten.

Christmas at Sea might sound like the title of a lost "Love Boat" episode, but it's actually a charity dedicated to bringing "hospitality and love" to ocean and river sailors in the form of knitted items like socks, mittens, gloves, scarves, and caps. Okay, so maybe there are some similarities here, but I don't remember Captain Stubing or Gopher ever knitting a scarf for any of the guys who did the real work.

Continue reading "How Christmas at Sea Helps Mariners Stay Warm" »

Posted by Nellie at 2:42 PM | Permalink

Thanks to Blankets for Canada, thousands of people can now face the harsh Canadian winter with the kind of protection they need.

Even a great nation has its disadvantaged people, and that's why Blankets for Canada started delivering toasty knitted blankets to Canadians in need in 1998.

Canadian winters can be some of the harshest on Earth. Meanwhile, the costs of utilities continue to rise, especially for such essentials has natural gas and heating oil. Something as simple as a knitted blanket can make the difference between surviving a cold northern winter -- or not.

Continue reading "Blankets for Canada: Warming Canadians Since 1998" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:36 AM | Permalink

Bosnia women still haven't completely recovered from their country's devastating civil war, but Snow Cabin Goods is helping then stitch their lives back together.

If there's anything that charity knitting proves, it's that even the small things can make a real difference in the life of a person who's facing hardships and stress. But what about the survivors of a civil war? Can a little knitting help them?

Snow Cabin Goods has proven that it can. Not only does their Bosnian knitting program provide therapy for the women affected by the Bosnian civil war, it also provides much needed work and technical skills that will help those women, and their families, in the future.

Continue reading "Snow Cabin Goods: Rebuilding Lives in the Former Yugoslavia" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:08 AM | Permalink

Even dedicated charity knitters often don't think about the source of the yarn they knit with, but at Peace Fleece, that's where charity begins.

All veteran knitters know how a donated knitted item can perk up a needy soul or even change their life. But how often do we think of the yarn itself as a force for good?

That's what it's all about at Peace Fleece. Since the waning days of the Cold War, Peace Fleece has been bringing together Russian and American farmers and artisans to produce thick, colorful yarn that binds two nations together.

Continue reading "Staring at the Source With Peace Fleece" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:58 AM | Permalink

An all-too-common result of cancer treatment is hair loss, so cancer victims can always use the warm hats that Chemo Caps delivers.

Cancer can hit you hard, so the only option is to hit it back even harder. But aggressive treatment often causes cancer patients to lose their hair, which can be a hard psychological blow on top of everything else.

A knitted cap can't replace a healthy head of hair, but it can help soothe the emotions that result from the loss -- and if nothing else, it'll keep the patient's head warm until her hair grows back in. That's why Chemo Caps volunteers have been busily knitting for seven years now.

Continue reading "Keeping Cancer Victims Warm With Chemo Caps" »

Posted by Nellie at 4:50 AM | Permalink

From the humblest of origins, Warm Up America! has matured into the best known and largest of American knitting charities.

If you can knit a square, you can knit for Warm Up America! It's as simple as that. Maybe that's why Warm Up America! has evolved into what's been called "the mother" of all American knitting charities. They make it so easy to help the homeless that it seems a shame not to try.

Continue reading "Let's Warm Up America! One Square at a Time" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:48 AM | Permalink

Wherever American soldiers are stationed in the War on Terror, the Ships Project is there with comfortable knitted items to lift their spirits.

It can be hard for a soldier to serve overseas, wondering if anyone back home appreciates what they do. While the volunteers of The Ships Project can't get hand-knitted goods to every soldier that deserves them, they're doing all they can to show Americas troops that we really are grateful for their sacrifices.

Admittedly, the name is a little misleading these days. Although some of the slippers, hats, mittens, and other knitted goodies do go to ship-based personnel, their land-based colleagues get them too, especially those who are based in the Middle East.

Continue reading "The Ships Project: Remembering the Troops Far From Home" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:42 AM | Permalink

As the American death toll in the Iraq War continues to climb, a charity called Red Sweaters documents the soldier's ultimate sacrifice, one little red sweater at a time.

Red Sweaters is one knitting charity that, unlike most, everyone will be happy to see come to an end. That's because every little red sweater added to the project represents an American soldier who has died in the Iraq War since its beginning in March 2003.

Each sweater is sized to fit a G.I. Joe doll, but it represents the ultimate sacrifice that any person can give for their fellow human beings. It exists, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, "lest we forget -- lest we forget."

Continue reading "Remembering American Soldiers With Little Red Sweaters" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:35 AM | Permalink

Eastern Europe can be a bleak place for orphans, but Children in Common is working to build them a brighter future.

When your whole world has fallen apart, a warm sweater, a hat, or a pair of knitted socks can make a big difference. That's why Children in Common distributes its gifts in orphanages in Russia and Lithuania, where conditions are especially dire.

Continue reading "Children in Common: Helping Orphans Face Life" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:29 AM | Permalink

Care Wear gives the tiniest newborns a "head" start with knitted caps made just for them.

Have you ever tried knitting a hat for a head the size of a lime? That's one of the challenges faced daily by Care Wear volunteers, who create snug caps for premature babies to wear during their first few weeks of life.

In addition to warming them and reducing stress on their fragile circulatory systems, the adorable Care Wear caps soften the sterile hospital environment where these babies have to live, and bring psychological comfort to worried parents.

Continue reading "Care Wear Helps Welcome Preemies into the World" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:19 AM | Permalink

Sheila's Shawls provides comfort for people who have lost loved ones to domestic violence, one knitted prayer shawl at a time.

As every charity knitter knows, our creations can do much more than keep someone warm. They can become a source of comfort, offer a bright spot of hope during a desperate time, or soothe the soul of someone scarred by loss.

Sheila's Shawls manage to do all three. These colorful prayer shawls, created in memory of domestic violence crusader Sheila Wellstone, offer solace and healing to those who have suffered loss as a result of domestic violence.

Continue reading "Sheila's Shawls: Shedding Light on Domestic Violence" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:38 AM | Permalink

At Hugs for Homeless Animals, knitted Snuggles make life a little easier for the residents of animal shelters.

Homeless critters have it tough. Even in the most humane of shelters, they face overcrowding, Spartan surroundings, and boring lives.

With Snuggles -- pet blankets made to grace animal shelter pens -- a group called Hugs for Homeless Animals is out to brighten the lives of animals waiting for adoption. Snuggles are easy to make, and their recipients are always grateful.

Continue reading "Hugs for Homeless Animals Gives Critters Knitted Love, Too" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:31 AM | Permalink

An inspired solution to a simple problem, Caps For Kids is the ideal charity for knitters with leftover yarn and lots of compassion.

We've all bought an extra ball of yarn for insurance, only to find out it didn't fit into our knitting needs. Most yarn shops won't take them back, either, since they're odd lots.

But Caps for Kids, a California-based knitting charity, has found a way to turn those odd lot liabilities into a force for good. Working through yarn shops all over the country, it encourages knitters to transform their surplus yarn into hand-knitted caps for underprivileged kiddos

Continue reading "Caps for Kids Warms Both Heads and Hearts" »

Posted by Nellie at 10:23 AM | Permalink

Even as HIV/AIDS ravages South Africa, the Mother Bear Project is there to brighten the lives of sad children with hand-knitted bears.

Anyone who doubts that knitting can make the world a better place should take a good, long look at the Mother Bear Project. This knitter's charity targets needy children in South Africa, providing them with tiny, hand-knit teddy bears when all hope seems lost.

Most of the children helped by the Mother Bear Project are victims of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in one way or another. Some have the disease; others are orphans because of it. Sometimes their Mother Bears are all they have left.

Continue reading "Mother Bear Project to the Rescue" »

Posted by Nellie at 9:15 AM | Permalink

The goal of Binky Patrol is to give every needy child their own security blanket -- no matter who they are, or what they're going through.

Break out those needles, folks, it's time to knit a Binky or two. And just what the heck is a Binky, you ask? Why, a Binky's anything that brings comfort to a little kid. You probably had one yourself when you were little.

For me, a Binky was a pacifier. (Okay, so I'm a little weird). For most kids, though, a Binky is a beloved security blanket. Blanky = binky, get it? Think of the character Linus in the Peanuts comic strip, and you'll understand.

Continue reading "How Binky Patrol Brings Hope to Suffering Kids" »

Posted by Nellie at 7:41 AM | Permalink

Want to Help Knit a War-torn Country Back Together? Here's How Afghans for Afghans Helps

The knitting community has always reached out to those in need, and if there's anywhere that really needs our help these days, it's Afghanistan. This small Muslim nation has faced trouble of one kind or another for more than 30 years.

First they had to deal with a Soviet invasion that took years of guerilla fighting to repel. Then the Taliban took over, forcing Afghanistan into cultural and economic stagnation.

Since 2001, Afghanistan has been a major battlefield in the global War on Terror. Today, Afghan society is a patchwork of hunger, poverty, oppression, and low-level conflict. All that, and they still have to face brutal winters, often without enough shelter and warm clothing. But determined knitters can help fix that.

Continue reading "Afghans for Afghans: Winning the Hearts and Minds of a Proud People" »

Posted by Nellie at 3:05 PM | Permalink