Today, in honor of Valentine’s Day we have guest blogger Wendy from Girly-Q-Farm. Thanks Wendy & HAPPY VALENTINE”S DAY everyone !!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s Share the Love
For those of you who don’t know me, a very large part of my job is writing about people. One thing that surprises me is how many people help others by using their artistic talents in crafting. I was flabbergasted to learn that a friend of mine crafts quilts for Operation Kid Comfort, I didn’t even know that she sewed. The organization creates custom made quilts for children of deployed US military personal. Photo’s of the deployed parent are printed onto fabric and sewn into the quilt, that way kids can sleep with mom or dad every night.
Once I found out about that one friends work, I started to ask others if they did for crafts charity. It’s amazing how many people do something. Like snuggle projects, crocheting for the elderly, and making all sorts of crafts to benefit their church.
Since I like to work in yarn, I’ve found charities that I like to craft for. I’m sure many of you also craft for charity’s, and I’m really excited to learn who you craft for. I’ve put together a short list of charities in case you’re looking for something new. I haven’t vetted each charity I’ve listed here so please thoroughly check out any charity you consider donating to.
All Crafts for Charity
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/All_Crafts_4_Charity/
This Yahoo group promotes sewing, crocheting, knitting, quilting, tatting, smocking and other fabric arts for the good of charities all over the world! We have free patterns, free advice and lists of agencies in need of your hand made donations. We mostly specialize in helping premature (preemie) infants and but also promote other charities that may need our help. Please join us in a positive and loving atmosphere that thrives on helping others. All we ask from you are loving hands and a kind heart.
The Snuggles Project
http://www.snugglesproject.org/
This is a project that I’ve been a part of locally in Stanislaus County Ca. Snuggles are a security blankets for shelter animals. Each animal would get a Snuggle to cuddle up with to feel warmth and comfort. Most shelter animals are kept in areas with stainless steel braces and hard plastic flooring or even bare concrete floors. The Snuggles would allow them to have a little reprieve from the coldness of the pen they are kept in.
Bottles of Hope
http://www.bottlesofhope.org/
This project was started in 1999 by a cancer survivor and polymer clay artist, Diane Gregoire. Diane found a way to use her special talents as an artist to cheer up the lives of cancer patients going through the ordeal of chemotherapy. She used clay to decoratively cover small glass medicine bottles and gave them to other patients as a symbol of hope. Polymer clay, which is sold under the brand names of Sculpey®, FIMO® and PREMO®, is a colorful and versatile man-made clay that can be sculpted, textured, stamped and combined in a multitude of ways to produce unique designs in pieces of art.
Heartmade Blessings
http://heartmadeblessings.org/
Heartmade Blessings is a world-wide group of volunteers dedicated to providing hand-crafted items to those people suffering a loss, tragedy, or going through a rough time that need to be reminded of the simple fact that people care.
Heartmade Blessings come from all the wonderful people who donate squares for afghans and bearghans. They are also made possible through the efforts of the warm, caring people who donate their time in assembling and organizing the distribution of these items to those in need. We truly believe these people are nothing short of a "blessing" themselves.
Color A Smile
http://www.colorasmile.org/
This would be a fun project for those who have children. This non-profit organization spreads smiles with cheerful drawings drawn by school children and distributes the drawings to nursing homes, Meals on Wheels Programs and people all across the country.
Stitches from the Heart
http://www.stitchesfromtheheart.org/
Stitches From The Heart is a 501(c)3, non-profit, charitable organization whose members contribute their talents by knitting, crocheting or quilting for those children born under less fortunate circumstances and often have little to wear when leaving the hospitals if it were not for the generosity of all of the caring volunteers who comprise Stitches From the Heart.
Since 1996, Stitches from the Heart volunteers have donated over 850,000 hand-made, warmth-giving items to be distributed to needy families of newborns, free of charge to over 1,300 hospitals and charities. We are so proud of the numbers!
Project Linus
http://www.projectlinus.org/
Since I know a recipient who received not one but two lovely handmade blankets that they slept with for months this is another organization close to my heart. Project Linus is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission. First, it is their mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.” Second, it is their mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindness Inc.
http://loveletterscares.org/Home.html
Their goal is to create positive and inspirational homemade cards for children with life-threatening illnesses. We also want our "Love Letters Pen Pals" to inspire others in their community to commit to making a difference through our organization.
Beading for a Cure
http://www.beadingforacure.org/about.html
This is an annual beading challenge dedicated to raising money for the National Colorectal Cancer Research Association.
Beads of Courage
http://beadsofcourage.net/
Since 2005 Beads of Courage helps children with serious illness tell their own stories of survival. The Program is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen children and families coping with serious illness. Through the program children tell their story using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path. Beads of Courage programs depend on donations of all kinds of handmade beads.
Operation Gratitude
http://www.operationgratitude.com/
This is a charity that I hope to be a part of this year. Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000 care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions, to their children left behind and to Wounded Warriors recuperating in Transition Units. This charity is always in need of handmade scarfs and hats.
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